Volodymyr Zelensky said “We really don’t want this to turn into a Yalta 2, 3, 4, with a redistribution of spheres of influence.”
Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Poutine will hold a tripartite meeting on Thursday, November 19, 2026, in Shenzhen, China, according to Noovo Info. The White House announced the meeting on Friday, November 13, 2026. The idea of the trilateral summit had been revealed in mid-October by the Wall Street Journal.
It reported that Vladimir Poutine proposed it to discuss ending the conflict in Ukraine without Kyiv or Europeans. The Kremlin subsequently confirmed that preparations had begun through Yury Ushakov. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the format was undergoing deep study.
The gathering brings together the leaders of the world’s three largest nuclear powers for the first time in such a format. The summit marks another step in the international return of Vladimir Poutine following his isolation by Western nations since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
It comes a little over a year after his meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska in August 2025. The 33rd APEC summit events in Shenzhen take place from November 18 to 19, 2026, showcasing the host city that transformed over decades from a small fishing village into a major global technological hub.
The agenda for the Shenzhen meeting features global nuclear reductions and the conflict involving Iran. White House officials said the American president intends to address the dangers of nuclear proliferation.
Olivia Wales said “The president has clearly indicated that he would address, among other things, the issue of reducing the number of nuclear weapons in the world.”
The United States and Russia maintain over 5,000 warheads each. China’s arsenal is estimated at about 500 warheads. Beijing is hesitant to enter a trilateral arms pact. Political scientist Wen-Ti Sung told AFP that if the Trump administration is willing to abandon one partner by convenience, it could drop another.
American officials insisted that the war in Ukraine will not be part of the discussions in Shenzhen. Kyiv and European capitals raised concerns about a potential grand bargain partitioning spheres of influence.
An anonymous U.S. official told reporters during a press briefing that “Washington is pursuing a completely separate track” of negotiations, and China is “not really part of that track. It therefore does not seem appropriate to address the issue of Ukraine.”
Friedrich Merz said “For the first time, there will be concrete peace talks in the coming weeks in which Europeans will be represented,” while urging American caution with the message “Please, no surprises.” Donald Trump is not scheduled to hold a separate one-on-one bilateral meeting with Vladimir Poutine during the summit.
Unlike his interaction with Xi Jinping, with whom he will share a Thursday lunch, Donald Trump is not scheduled to hold a separate one-on-one bilateral meeting with Vladimir Poutine during the summit.