US and China Deadlock Over Trump-Xi-Putin Summit Format

The United States and China are deadlocked over the format of a proposed trilateral summit between Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin. Scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in southern China, the meeting faces structural disagreements. China demands a highly scripted event with prepared statements and minimal discussion to prevent unpredictable exchanges, while the Trump administration seeks a looser format to encourage direct dialogue.

A central point of contention is nuclear arms control. President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio want to include China in these discussions following the expiration of the New START treaty. Beijing has resisted such talks to avoid acknowledging its nuclear inferiority. Trump indicated that the leaders will talk about various topics, including denuclearization.

President Putin is pushing for the meeting to secure a Russia-friendly conclusion to the war in Ukraine, specifically seeking a resolution that excludes President Volodymyr Zelensky.