Trump, Xi, and Putin to hold trilateral summit in Shenzhen

President Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping, and President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold a trilateral meeting in Shenzhen, China, on November 19, 2026. This summit marks the first time the heads of state of the United States, China, and Russia will sit together at the same table. The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit, which runs from November 17 to November 19, 2026.

Historical diplomatic meeting

The summit is being held in Shenzhen, a major Chinese technology and economic hub. Some observers are referring to the meeting as "Yalta 2.0," a term suggesting the potential establishment of a new security order based on spheres of influence. This meeting occurs during a period of fragmentation in the international order and amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.

This high-level meeting follows recent diplomatic efforts in the United Arab Emirates. On November 10 and 11, 2026, United States representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian and Ukrainian representatives in the United Arab Emirates. That meeting in the United Arab Emirates was the first public meeting between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine since the start of Russia's special military operation in February 2022. During those negotiations, the European Union was excluded from the discussions and was relegated to bilateral meetings with Ukraine and the United States.

Nuclear and security concerns

The agenda for the trilateral meeting is not fully defined, as the leaders are arriving with different priorities. United States officials stated they do not expect the meeting to result in immediate progress regarding nuclear arms control. One United States administration official stated that the meeting is a starting point for future productive conversation and that no immediate agreement is expected.

Nuclear capabilities remain a significant point of global interest. Currently, China's nuclear arsenal is approximately 10 times smaller than the United States' nuclear arsenal. Regarding negotiations, Edgard Kagan of the Center for Strategic and International Studies stated that China does not want to negotiate limits on its nuclear arsenal. President Donald Trump said the meeting will be interesting and will cover many topics, including denuclearization.

Global political implications

The summit takes place as international pressure on multilateral institutions continues. Kremlin propagandist Aleksandr Dugin stated that the meeting shows who is important in the world: Russia, China, and the West.

Glossary

• Shenzhen — Shenzhen is a major Chinese technology and economic hub. It is the location where the Conference on International Exchange of Professionals is held.
• spheres of influence — Spheres of influence are part of a system created in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna. They represent a potential basis for a new security order.
• special military operation — The special military operation is a conflict in Ukraine that began in February 2022.
• European Union — The European Union is an entity involved in trade arrangements, such as the Central America–European Union Association Agreement. It is also a participant in international discussions.
• nuclear arsenal — A nuclear arsenal consists of nuclear weapons. The size of a country's nuclear arsenal can vary, such as China's being approximately 10 times smaller than that of the United States.