Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told state-affiliated media on Sunday that preparations are underway for a trilateral summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Mr. Ushakov confirmed to Russian outlet Vesti that all parties have agreed in principle to the meeting, and that details are being worked out.
“Right now, I can already state definitely that Moscow, Beijing, and Washington are in principle ready to hold it, and preparations for it have already begun,” said Mr. Ushakov, a former Russian ambassador to the U.S.
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Mr. Ushakov added that Russia has not made any decisions concerning a possible meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin at next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China or the G20 summit in December in Atlanta, Georgia.
News of a possible trilateral summit with Mr. Xi comes as the U.S. tries to wrangle the leaders of Russia and Ukraine into their own meeting. The Kremlin said last week that Mr. Putin had agreed “in principle” to restarting U.S.-mediated talks with Ukraine but that they wouldn’t happen until after Nov. 10.
Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. participated in technical negotiations earlier this year, but there were no repeat meetings and the war in Iran, and escalated fighting in Ukraine, has for months stifled peace efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has long advocated for a temporary ceasefire to allow for productive negotiations to take place, which Mr. Putin has rejected on the grounds that it would allow Kyiv to rearm and attack again.
Russia has also repeatedly demanded that Ukraine give up territory that it does not fully control and has resisted efforts by European leaders to push for the presence of a permanent peacekeeping force.
Further complicating efforts are the near-constant strikes on energy infrastructure on both sides of the frontline. Ukrainian missiles and drones continue to strike at Russian oil refineries and Russia’s drones have hammered Ukrainian gas and power stations.
Mr. Trump attempted to broker a limited energy ceasefire earlier this month that Russia appeared unwilling to abide by, despite Ukraine’s willingness to participate.
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