Putin Proposes Trump-Xi Summit on Ukraine Without Zelenskyy
Quick Answer: Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a summit with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping next month to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war — without Volodymyr Zelenskyy — The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, October 18, 2026. The Kremlin confirmed discussions are taking place. Trump defended waiving Russia sanctions and accused Zelenskyy of not wanting the war to end.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Vladimir Putin wants to decide Ukraine’s future with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping — but without Ukraine at the table. According to a Wall Street Journal report published Sunday, Putin proposed a three-way summit next month aimed at negotiating an end to the four-year war on terms favorable to Moscow.
- Putin floated the Trump-Xi summit during an October 9 phone call with Trump, according to the Wall Street Journal.
- The Kremlin suggested holding it on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18–19.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed talks are happening but said no agenda or meeting is settled.
- Trump defended easing Russia sanctions on Truth Social, claiming he is “negotiating peace” and making “great progress.”
- Trump accused Zelenskyy of not wanting to end the war; Zelenskyy said siding with Moscow would be a “historic mistake.”
What the Putin Trump-Xi Summit Proposal Says
The proposal, reported by the Journal citing people familiar with the discussions, would be an unprecedented gathering: three of the world’s most powerful leaders negotiating the fate of Ukraine with Kyiv — and Europe — excluded. The report cited a former Russian intelligence officer briefed on the matter, who said Putin raised the idea in an October 9 telephone call with Trump.
The Kremlin suggested holding the trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled for November 18–19 in Shenzhen, China, according to the report. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions over a potential meeting are taking place, but cautioned: “There is no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda, although all three parties acknowledge the hypothetical possibility of such a meeting taking place.”
A senior U.S. official told the Journal that Trump had not agreed to the summit but could be receptive to the idea. The same October 9 call also produced a deal for the United States to buy Russian diesel fuel and facilitate its sale on global markets — an agreement Trump confirmed publicly.
Trump Lashes Out at Zelenskyy, Defends Russia Sanctions Relief
US President Donald Trump. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Hours before the Journal report, Trump mounted a full-throated defense of his decision to block new sanctions on Russia, and turned his fire on Zelenskyy. On Truth Social on Sunday, Trump wrote: “My decision on Russia is a very simple one. I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don’t want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table.”
He added that “great progress” was being made, including “current hostage negotiations.” Trump accused Zelenskyy of deliberately prolonging the conflict: “Zelenskyy doesn’t care, and frankly, with all of the money that Europe is famously giving him… he doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did.” He criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian diesel refineries, arguing they were “seriously hurting the world diesel markets.”
The sanctions decision is already in effect: on Friday, Trump signed an executive order waiving parts of a bipartisan sanctions bill, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying the president wanted up to 60 days to assess the economic impact. Read more: Trump wants up to 60 days to decide on Russia sanctions, Rubio says.
Zelenskyy’s Response to the Trump-Xi Summit Idea
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Zelenskyy pushed back hard. On NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, he said waiving sanctions “will hurt Ukraine” and strengthen Putin’s war effort: “We can’t compare me and Putin. He’s [an] aggressor. He occupied us. He killed adults and children, his soldiers. He’s a terrorist.” He warned that Washington taking Putin’s side would be a “historic mistake,” according to coverage by Al Jazeera and The Times.
Zelenskyy also said on X that he had spoken with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as part of “virtually non-stop communication” toward “next steps in diplomacy.” Read more: Ukraine Russia news — Zelensky defies Trump, resumes refinery strikes.
Why It Matters
A peace deal negotiated without Ukraine would upend decades of Western diplomacy, which has held that Kyiv must be central to any settlement. European capitals are expected to be alarmed by the prospect — Ukraine and its allies have long maintained that any agreement without them at the negotiating table would be meaningless, according to Firstpost and the Journal‘s reporting.
The rift also deepens as fighting escalates: Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia over the weekend — including a strike on an oil export terminal in St. Petersburg — while Russia hit Ukraine with ballistic missiles, leaving thousands without power, per Channel News Asia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Putin propose a summit with Trump and Xi on Ukraine?
According to a Wall Street Journal report published Sunday, October 18, 2026, yes. Putin proposed a trilateral summit with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping next month to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, excluding Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed discussions are taking place but said nothing is settled.
Where would the Trump-Xi-Putin summit be held?
The Kremlin suggested holding the meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, set for November 18–19 in Shenzhen, China. No venue has been confirmed, and a senior U.S. official told the Journal that Trump has not agreed to attend.
What did Trump say about Zelenskyy?
On Truth Social on Sunday, Trump accused Zelenskyy of not wanting the war to end: “Zelenskyy doesn’t care, and frankly, with all of the money that Europe is famously giving him… he doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did.” He also defended waiving new Russia sanctions, saying he is “negotiating peace.”
How did Zelenskyy respond to Trump?
Zelenskyy told NBC’s Meet the Press that waiving sanctions “will hurt Ukraine” and strengthen Putin, adding that siding with Moscow would be a “historic mistake” for Washington. He said he spoke with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Sunday.
Is Zelenskyy excluded from the proposed peace talks?
Under the proposal as reported by the Wall Street Journal, yes — the three-way summit would negotiate Ukraine’s future without Ukraine’s president at the table. European leaders and Kyiv have consistently argued that any deal without them would be meaningless.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal (via Reuters, CNBC and others), Al Jazeera, The Times, Channel News Asia, The Hindu. This is a developing story; details may change as more information emerges.
