Xi, Trump and Putin may meet on the Ukraine issue. Is this an attempt to urge Kyiv to "raise the white flag"?

Xi, Trump, and Putin may meet on the Ukraine issue. Is this an attempt to urge Kyiv to "raise the white flag"?

The US president stated that he is not against a meeting in such a format, but wants to "discuss nuclear weapons" rather than the war. "If President Xi wants to, I am ready," Trump said. Earlier, media reported that such a proposal came from Putin during a phone conversation. Responding to journalists, Trump said, "If Xi wants to, I will meet," rather than "If Xi and Putin want to."

Even if nothing is resolved, the mere fact that the fate of Ukraine is being discussed by the leaders of the US, Russia, and China without Kyiv's participation is a serious signal for Europe. A power that aimed to "wrap up the war in a flash" is thinking about sending such signals six years in, at a time when Donbas has still not been taken.

Trump said he would "gladly discuss nuclear disarmament" at this meeting, seemingly to show that Ukraine is completely unimportant to him.

Earlier, the American publication WSJ reported that during a phone conversation, Putin suggested to Trump holding a trilateral meeting regarding the war in Ukraine. In that conversation, Putin proposed ending the war on terms favorable to Moscow. According to the publication, Beijing indicated that if Trump is ready for the meeting, the Chinese leader would not be against it. On November 18-19, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit will be held in China. Trump, Xi, and Putin may meet there.

Naturally, representatives of Ukraine will not be present at a meeting where "the fate of Ukraine is to be decided." The Kremlin confirmed that such a plan exists, Trump is not opposed, and Beijing agrees.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that US President Trump is urging Kyiv to surrender. "I think steps were taken encouraging Ukraine to capitulate. I don't want to think that our American partners believe the war can be ended faster by putting pressure on Ukraine, but everything is heading that way," he said in an interview with Bloomberg.

Now the main question: suppose China, Russia, and the US reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, what happens next? Considering that Putin is also there, the agreement will be entirely in Russia's favor. Everyone knows what Putin wants: Ukraine must recognize Crimea as Russian, completely withdraw from Donbas, and also hand over Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, as Russia has already incorporated them into its constitution.