Trump, Putin, and Xi to hold trilateral summit in Shenzhen

Presidents Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping will hold a trilateral meeting on November 19, 2026, in Shenzhen, China. The summit will take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit to address global security concerns. This meeting marks a significant diplomatic event as the leaders of the United States, Russia, and China gather to discuss international stability.

Nuclear arms reduction focus

The primary focus of the trilateral talks is the reduction of nuclear weapons. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said the meeting will focus on the reduction of nuclear weapons in the world. While the summit aims to address these critical security issues, officials suggest the meeting is intended as an initial conversation rather than a session for immediate agreements. A US official said no immediate agreement is expected and described the meeting as an introductory conversation for nuclear arms reduction.

The diplomatic meeting follows the expiration of the New START treaty on February 5, 2026. The New START treaty was the last bilateral agreement limiting the strategic nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia. Signed in 2010, the treaty previously limited each country to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and 700 deployed strategic vectors. The expiration of this treaty has increased the urgency for new discussions regarding strategic weapon limits.

Bilateral and trilateral discussions

In addition to the three-way summit, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin plan to hold a separate bilateral meeting in Shenzhen. These leaders intend to discuss the situation in Ukraine and other shared interests during their private discussions. The combination of trilateral and bilateral talks highlights the complex nature of the upcoming negotiations in China.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov confirmed the meeting via the RIA news agency. Dmitri Peskov said an agreement has been reached to hold a trilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Donald Trump on the 19th in Shenzhen during the APEC summit. This confirmation establishes the timeline for the high-level diplomatic engagement scheduled for late November.

Historical context and significance

The upcoming summit in Shenzhen has been compared to the 1945 Yalta Conference due to the scale of the leaders involved. The meeting occurs at a time when the international community is seeking new frameworks for nuclear non-proliferation and arms control. The transition from the New START treaty framework to new diplomatic efforts represents a critical shift in global strategic stability.

As the leaders prepare to meet in Shenzhen, the international community remains focused on whether these introductory conversations will lead to concrete treaties. The discussions between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping will serve as a foundational step in addressing the strategic nuclear capabilities of the world's major powers.

Glossary

• Shenzhen — Shenzhen is a location in China. It serves as the venue for the Conference on International Exchange of Professionals (CIEP).
• New START treaty — The New START treaty is a bilateral agreement that limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads of the United States and Russia. It was signed in 2010.
• strategic nuclear warheads — Strategic nuclear warheads are components of strategic nuclear arsenals. They are subject to limits under bilateral agreements like the New START treaty.
• Ukraine — Ukraine is a nation. Its president has engaged in discussions regarding security and trade with other leaders.