The Kremlin said Monday that President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could hold a trilateral meeting focused on ending the war in Ukraine when they gather in China next month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
“Given that all three heads of state may potentially take part in the summit in China, the subject of such a hypothetical meeting was indeed raised,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a Wall Street Journal report about ongoing talks to end the war.
“It was raised, but no specific proposals or agreements were discussed or put forward by anyone, either regarding the meeting itself or the possible agenda and substance of that meeting,” Peskov added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticised the idea of holding a meeting in China without Ukraine’s input.
“A trilateral meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia could help end the war sooner. A trilateral meeting between the leaders of Russia, China and the U.S. would do only the opposite: encourage Putin to continue this war,” Sybiha wrote in a post on X.
Peskov, who told reporters Monday that the U.S. was continuing its efforts to broker an end to the Ukraine war, said it was obvious that Ukraine would ultimately need to be involved in a final peace deal.
“Of course, a final settlement is impossible without the participation of someone in Kyiv who is prepared to take responsibility,” he said.
The last U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in February, just before the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran. Ukraine and Russia remain as far apart as ever when it comes to the terms of any possible peace deal.
