The Case for a Trump-Xi-Putin Summit

Putin reportedly proposed the meeting last month as a forum for discussing an end to the war in Ukraine, though no firm plan has been announced. The mere prospect has drawn sharp criticism, with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warning against a repeat of the 1945 Yalta Conference, where major powers effectively carved up Eastern Europe. U.S. Senator Chris Coons said on X that no talks about Ukraine’s future should proceed without Ukraine at the table, and that real negotiations require Trump to stop signaling weakness toward Xi and Putin. The episode matters because it would put the three leaders most central to Ukraine’s fate in the same room for the first time, testing whether Washington can broker talks without alienating Kyiv or European allies. What to watch next is whether a formal meeting is confirmed for Shenzhen and whether Ukraine secures a seat—or at least a voice—in any negotiations.