Russian President Vladimir Putin may meet United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China if circumstances permit.

Moscow has also indicated that a trilateral meeting involving Russia, China and the United States cannot be ruled out, according to reports from TASS.

Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that both Putin and Trump plan to attend the summit. He explained that Moscow would seek to arrange separate meetings for the Russian leader, including with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Ushakov added that if a meeting between Putin and Trump takes place, the content of their dialogue would depend on the duration of the encounter.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that the possibility of a trilateral meeting involving the leaders of Russia, China and the United States exists, though preparations have not yet begun. He noted that the idea had been introduced into public discussion but cautioned against assuming that it was moving into a preparatory phase.

Ryabkov emphasised that the key issue would be determining the substantive agenda and expected outcome of such a meeting. He remarked that formats at the highest level are significant in themselves and send important signals, citing the RIC format as an example.

He acknowledged that a trilateral format involving Russia, China and the United States has not been practised before, and while he could not rule it out, he had no further details to provide at present.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on recent diplomatic engagements between the United States and Russia. He said that Putin’s meeting with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner reflected an atmosphere of trust through that channel of communication.

Peskov explained that the very fact of the meeting demonstrated that trust existed and was strengthening. He added that expanded exchanges of welcoming remarks usually occur when there are messages that the head of state considers necessary to convey.

These developments come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Kyiv is prepared to implement a temporary halt to aerial strikes targeting Russian cities engaged in ongoing diplomatic negotiations. This move signals Ukraine’s willingness to support diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing hostilities while broader discussions continue.

ANI