Putin and Trump May Meet at APEC Summit, Trilateral Talks Also Possible
Russian President Vladimir Putin may meet his US counterpart Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China if an opportunity arises, according to Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov. The APEC summit is a key international economic gathering that brings together leaders from across the Pacific region.
Ushakov stated that both Putin and Trump plan to attend the APEC summit and that Moscow would seek to arrange separate meetings for the Russian President, including with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He added that if a Putin-Trump meeting takes place, the substance of their dialogue would depend on the duration of the meeting.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also noted that a trilateral meeting involving the leaders of Russia, China and the United States cannot be ruled out. However, he emphasized that preparations for such a meeting have not yet begun. Ryabkov stated that the key issue would be determining the substantive agenda of such a meeting and the expected outcome.
The developments come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Kyiv is prepared to implement a temporary halt to aerial strikes targeting Russian cities engaged in ongoing diplomatic negotiations. This move is seen as a sign of goodwill towards Russia and could potentially pave the way for further talks.