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Trump Says Zelensky Should Get "Somebody Else" To Negotiate To End War

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NDTV News Search Records Found 1000

October 22, 2026
Trump Says Zelensky Should Get "Somebody Else" To Negotiate To End War

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed a trilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the Ukraine conflict. While Kremlin officials confirm discussions are ongoing, the potential exclusion of Ukrainian leadership has raised significant diplomatic concerns.

The Trilateral Proposal: A New Diplomatic Frontier

Recent reports indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a high-stakes trilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The primary objective of this proposed meeting is to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The potential for such a meeting, which could take place on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China, represents a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape surrounding the Eastern European theater.

The Mechanics of the Proposed Summit

According to reports citing a former Russian intelligence officer, the idea was broached during an October 9 phone call between Putin and Trump. This call, which also resulted in an agreement regarding the global sale of Russian diesel oil, signals an active channel of communication between Washington and Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that discussions regarding a potential meeting are indeed taking place, though he noted that no concrete agreements or specific proposals have been finalized as of yet.

Geopolitical Implications and Exclusion Concerns

One of the most contentious aspects of this potential summit is the reported exclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The prospect of world powers deciding the fate of a sovereign nation without the participation of its leadership has caused alarm in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials have expressed strong reservations, arguing that excluding them from these negotiations could inadvertently incentivize Russia to prolong the conflict rather than seek a lasting peace, as it minimizes the leverage of the Ukrainian government in its own defense.

The Role of Global Power Brokers

By involving China, the summit would acknowledge the growing influence of Beijing in the resolution of international security crises. President Xi Jinping’s participation would be pivotal, as China maintains a complex strategic partnership with Russia while navigating its own economic interests with the United States. This trilateral framework reflects an attempt to bypass traditional multilateral forums, moving toward a 'great power' management style of global diplomacy that has not been seen in the post-Cold War era.

Historical Context and Future Trends

This move comes amid mounting tensions between Ukraine and the United States, its primary military benefactor. The timing of this proposal suggests a potential reassessment of Western support structures and a possible pivot toward rapid, deal-based diplomacy. Should this summit proceed, it would set a precedent for how the Ukraine war—and perhaps other frozen conflicts—might be managed in the future: through direct, top-level negotiations between the world's most powerful nuclear-armed states, potentially sidelining smaller nations to achieve a swift cessation of hostilities.

Conclusion

While the summit remains hypothetical and unconfirmed, its mere suggestion underscores the fluidity of current international relations. The path forward remains uncertain, complicated by the lack of Ukrainian representation and the deep-seated mistrust between the involved parties. As the global community looks toward the APEC summit in China, the world waits to see if this diplomatic gamble will materialize into a tangible peace process or remain a maneuver in the broader theater of geopolitical posturing.

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