Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss a possible end to the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
The proposed meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for November 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, China. However, the proposal reportedly favours Moscow's interests, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The report said Putin made the proposal during a telephone conversation with Trump on October 9, which also resulted in an agreement involving Russian diesel supplies to the United States.
The proposal comes amid improving relations between Washington and Moscow, following Trump's announcement of the diesel deal and his decision to sign an executive order waiving key sanctions against Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions about a possible meeting were ongoing, although no final agreement had been reached regarding the summit or its agenda.
"There is no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda," Peskov told the Wall Street Journal, adding that all three parties acknowledged the possibility of such a meeting.
A senior US official reportedly said Trump had not agreed to the proposed summit but could be receptive to the idea.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised Trump's decision to ease sanctions on Moscow and pursue the diesel agreement, warning that the moves could embolden Putin and prolong the war.
The White House, the Kremlin and the Chinese government had not immediately issued official responses to requests for comment on the reported proposal.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has continued for more than four years, with international diplomatic efforts focused on finding a lasting resolution.
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