US President Donald Trump says he is willing to join Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping for a possible trilateral meeting in China next month, with nuclear weapons and denuclearisation expected to be the main focus. The proposed meeting has not yet been formally confirmed.

WASHINGTON, United States — October 20, 2026: US President Donald Trump has expressed willingness to participate in a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China next month, saying discussions could focus on nuclear weapons and denuclearisation.

Trump made the remarks on Monday, October 19, after reporters asked whether he had agreed to meet the Russian and Chinese leaders to discuss the war in Ukraine. He said no agreement had been reached but indicated that he would participate if Xi wanted to proceed with the proposal.

“We would have it to talk about nuclear weapons and denuclearization,” Trump told reporters outside the White House, according to Reuters.

Kremlin Says Trilateral Meeting Has Been Discussed

The Kremlin said earlier on Monday that a possible three-way meeting had been discussed and could take place on the sidelines of next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the possibility had been raised in discussions involving the three leaders. However, no formal proposal or confirmed agenda had been established.

The potential gathering could bring together the leaders of the United States, Russia and China for discussions on nuclear arms control, international security and other issues of mutual interest.

Nuclear Disarmament at the Centre of Proposed Talks

Trump indicated that reducing nuclear threats would be the primary purpose of such a meeting, although trade and other bilateral matters could also feature in discussions.

The proposal comes amid continuing tensions over Russia’s war in Ukraine and broader competition between Washington, Moscow and Beijing.

The three countries possess the world’s largest nuclear arsenals, making their positions important to international arms-control efforts. However, any progress would depend on whether the governments agree on the scope of negotiations and possible commitments.

Ukraine Could Remain a Point of Disagreement

Although the proposed meeting has been discussed in connection with the Ukraine conflict, Trump said it would focus primarily on nuclear weapons and denuclearisation.

Ukrainian officials have stressed that Kyiv must be involved in decisions concerning the country’s future and any settlement of the war. A meeting between the three leaders would therefore raise questions about how Ukraine’s interests would be represented if the conflict were discussed.

Meeting Not Yet Confirmed

As of October 20, the proposed trilateral meeting remained under discussion rather than a confirmed diplomatic event. China had not publicly provided a detailed agenda, and the Kremlin said further arrangements would need to be worked out.

Whether the leaders meet will depend on subsequent diplomatic consultations. Any agreement on nuclear arms control or the Ukraine conflict would require further negotiations beyond an expression of willingness to hold talks.