The leaders of the United States, China and Russia will sit down together for the first time on Thursday, November 19, 2026, in Shenzhen, China, the White House confirmed on Friday — an unprecedented gathering of the heads of the world's three biggest nuclear powers, held on the sidelines of the APEC summit.
President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which China hosts in Shenzhen on November 18–19, with Xi chairing the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting of the forum's 21 member economies.
Assistant Press Secretary Olivia Wales said Trump intends to discuss "the reduction of nuclear weapons in the world," which he believes is becoming very dangerous. A senior administration official said Trump will also raise the war with Iran with both leaders. The timing matters: the New START treaty, the last major nuclear arms-control agreement between Washington and Moscow, expired on February 5, 2026, removing the caps on the two largest arsenals for the first time in more than half a century.
The three sides do not yet agree on the agenda. Washington says Ukraine will not be part of the trilateral discussion, while Moscow has signaled that Putin wants to discuss ending the war there. China's Foreign Ministry said on November 13 that Beijing was "in communication with relevant parties" about the meeting.
Expectations are deliberately low. The senior U.S. official said no agreements are expected to be announced, describing the session as the beginning of a conversation. Analysts say the meeting will be heavier in symbolism than substance — but it is still expected to overshadow the APEC summit itself.
Trump leaves Washington on Monday, November 16, for an Asia trip that begins in the Philippines, travels to Shenzhen on Wednesday, and includes a separate bilateral meeting and working lunch with Xi on Thursday before the three-way session. The White House said there are no plans for a separate meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the trip.
Sources: Associated Press, The Washington Post, Reuters, White House.
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