Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump could meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China in November, while stressing that no formal talks are currently planned.
Putin, who recently concluded a two-day official visit to China, informed Chinese President Xi Jinping that he plans to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19. Trump, who also traveled to China last week, has reportedly signaled his intention to participate as well.
Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday: “Our president has confirmed that he will come to the APEC summit,” he said. “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 that “so far this has not yet been agreed, but given such a prospect exists, it is unlikely that anyone would refuse it.”
The potential encounter follows the August 2025 summit between Putin and Trump in Anchorage, Alaska—the first and only face-to-face meeting between Russian and US 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 US-Israeli war with Iran.
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 maintains that any peaceful settlement is predicated on Kiev withdrawing from the remaining areas of Donbass that are still under its control.
