More than a year after the last "Trump-Putin summit," a potential revival is on the horizon, with Russia revealing it could be held in China.
Over a year after their previous meeting, U.S. and Russian leaders may reunite once again. This time, the location is likely to be China—not speculation from outsiders, but confirmed by Putin’s press secretary, Peskov.
On Friday local time, Peskov explicitly stated during a press briefing that although no final arrangements have been made, the possibility of a summit between the U.S. and Russian heads of state in China cannot be ruled out.
This November, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit will take place in Shenzhen. According to Russian sources, Putin and Trump might hold talks during this period.
Shortly before, Putin spoke with Trump and mentioned the potential for a meeting during APEC. Despite the current deadlock in Ukraine-Russia negotiations, high-level interactions between the two leaders remain frequent—already five phone calls this year.
Trump’s determination to end the Ukraine conflict is unquestionable. After the call, he reiterated his desire for an early ceasefire and has already begun envisioning a bright future following comprehensive U.S.-Russia rapprochement, including the restoration of trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.
Trump told reporters the conversation was “excellent,” adding that the feedback he received indicated Putin’s strong desire to end the conflict—while simultaneously shifting responsibility to Zelenskyy, stating that peace between Russia and Ukraine would be possible if Kyiv were willing to negotiate.
Although the APEC Summit primarily focuses on economic and trade cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, bilateral and multilateral meetings during the event are routine. Leaders can flexibly schedule talks during breaks in the agenda, providing favorable conditions for a potential “Trump-Putin summit.”
Of course, Russia’s positive signals do not guarantee that such a meeting will actually happen. The cessation of hostilities in Ukraine still depends on Kyiv’s willingness. Unless Trump decisively cuts all support and aid to Ukraine and pressures NATO allies to stop supplying weapons—something he clearly won’t do—the situation remains uncertain.
Moreover, Ukraine has recently tasted some success through asymmetric drone warfare and is unlikely to easily back down. A stalemate on the battlefield is unlikely to be broken directly by high-level interactions between U.S. and Russian leaders.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876110381426760/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of its author.