Russia has proposed a three-way meeting between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in China next month, according to The Washington Post. The reported aim is to discuss a settlement to the war in Ukraine.
The Washington Post first reported the proposal, and the Kremlin has since confirmed that such a three-way meeting is possible, according to Dawn. The Wall Street Journal, which reported the plan as an exclusive, said Putin raised the idea of a summit with Trump and Xi to discuss a Ukraine deal. CNBC reported that the proposed summit would not include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
France 24 framed the development as Ukraine being on the back foot as the Kremlin floats a meeting involving Washington and Beijing. The reports, taken together, indicate Moscow is seeking a format that brings the two other major powers to the table while leaving Kyiv out of the room.
The proposal is at the discussion stage. No date, venue or confirmed participation has been reported, and it is not yet clear whether Washington or Beijing have responded to the idea.
What to watch next: whether the White House and Beijing publicly respond to the proposal, and whether any confirmed date or location for the meeting emerges.