Putin Suggests Trump Meeting in China, Not Yet Agreed

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that he and U.S. President Donald Trump could meet in China, after talks Putin held with Witkoff on October 21, Reuters reported.

The possible meeting would fall in November. According to The New York Times, Putin is scheduled to travel that month to Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, known as APEC, a regional gathering of economies.

The idea builds on earlier proposals. Putin has proposed a summit next month with Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Reuters reported in October. Trump said on October 19 that he is open to three-way talks with the leaders of China and Russia on arms control, meaning negotiations over limits on weapons.

The Kremlin, the office of the Russian president, said a three-way meeting of Putin, Trump and Xi in China next month is possible but has not been agreed. Reuters reported the Kremlin's position on October 19.

Putin also sent a personal message. He asked that his best wishes be conveyed to the U.S. president and said he was interested in continuing collaborative efforts between the two countries, according to the Kremlin's account published October 21. Earlier, Putin had congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, according to Kremlin listings.

No meeting has been confirmed by either government, and the three-way proposal remains at the stage of discussion.