Trump Putin Xi may meet at Shenzhen APEC summit

Divergent goals for leaders

The three men arrive with very different objectives for this rare encounter. Vladimir Putin wants a deal that concludes hostilities in Ukraine according to his conditions. President Trump aims for a historic deal involving nuclear arms control and artificial intelligence discussions. President Xi faces risks from Trump's improvisational style which clashes with his scripted approach to events.

Concerns over smaller nations

Smaller governments including Ukraine and Taiwan fear the big powers might cut private deals without them. Analysts warn this format signals that a few great powers can decide security over other countries heads. Russia suggested focusing talks on Ukraine while Trump pushed for nuclear weapons discussions at Abu Dhabi. China considers itself a nuclear underdog with far fewer weapons than the US or Russia.

Uncertain meeting prospects

Down-to-the-wire negotiations have not yet yielded a specific agenda or format for these talks. A senior Trump administration official stated they do not expect to reach an agreement on nuclear issues soon. Beijing spokespersons confirmed China is in communication regarding the meeting but shared nothing at this moment. Russia's embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment on the proposed gathering.