Trump to Meet Putin and Xi in China on Nuclear Arms and Iran

President Donald Trump will hold an unprecedented trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping next Thursday in Shenzhen, China, on the sidelines of the APEC summit. The White House announced the meeting, which will focus on nuclear arms reduction and the war in Iran. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales stated that global nuclear disarmament and reduction would be a core topic, with President Trump emphasizing the grave danger of nuclear proliferation. The meeting occurs as the global nuclear balance is in flux, with the US-Russia New START treaty having expired in February and China rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal. Beijing has historically refused direct talks on its nuclear program, insisting such discussions should be between the US and Russia, which possess the world's largest stockpiles. China also expressed discomfort with Trump's insistence on raising the issue at a summit focused on trade and economics. U.S. officials are tempering expectations for an immediate agreement, describing the meeting as a "starting point" for dialogue. Beyond nuclear concerns, Trump is also expected to raise the conflict between the U.S. and Israel and Iran. The war in Ukraine is not on the agenda, and Trump does not plan a separate meeting with Putin. U.S. officials noted that Washington has held recent talks with Moscow on Ukraine, but China is not involved in that diplomatic channel. The trilateral meeting is part of Trump's four-day Asian trip, which begins Monday. Businessman Elon Musk is expected to join Trump's trip to China but will not participate in the leaders' meeting. Trump is not expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his visit.