OddsFrontRussia floats Trump-Putin-Xi summit as Melania Trump to host Russian and Ukrainian envoys
The Kremlin says it hopes to finalise a three-way leaders’ meeting within days, while the White House says the first lady will receive Russian and Ukrainian representatives on Thursday over the Kherson truce.
Russia has signalled that a summit of Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping is under serious consideration, as the White House announced that First Lady Melania Trump will receive Russian and Ukrainian representatives this week. Both developments came on Tuesday, according to CNBC, and run alongside already confirmed peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the Kremlin hopes to settle the arrangements for a trilateral meeting of the Russian, American and Chinese leaders in the coming days, CNBC said, citing Reuters. He also confirmed that Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead Moscow’s delegation at the Abu Dhabi talks on Nov. 10-11.
A first lady’s meeting
The White House said Melania Trump will bring Russian and Ukrainian representatives to the building on Thursday to discuss the local ceasefire in the Kherson region. It did not say who will attend. It described the gathering as “an extraordinary moment in American history” and added that she will deliver remarks on the Oleshky truce at 11 a.m. ET.
That truce lasted six days and ended on Monday. It covered the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky and surrounding areas and was meant to let residents leave. The White House says the first lady brokered it. Ukraine said on Monday that Russia had used the pause to strengthen its military positions in the city.
Kyiv’s objection
Peskov’s remarks follow earlier reports that Russia, the United States and China were preparing to discuss an end to the war without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participating. Zelensky has rejected that format. On Oct. 20 he said such talks could be acceptable only with Kyiv at the table, adding: “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” He said he had discussed the idea of a three-way meeting of the US, China and Russia.
The announcements come as relations between Washington and Kyiv have grown more strained. CNBC noted that mounting tension in recent weeks has coincided with continued Russian and Ukrainian strikes, including on civilian and energy targets. It added that a series of Trump administration moves in October raised questions about the United States’ reliability as Ukraine’s main military backer.
What happens next
US special envoy Steve Witkoff said late on Monday that Washington will mediate the Abu Dhabi talks, which are to focus on security arrangements, de-escalation and humanitarian issues. He added that American negotiators will meet European and NATO officials in Brussels this week to discuss security guarantees after the war and Ukraine’s reconstruction.
On Polymarket, traders put the chance that Trump, Putin and Xi are seen together before 2027 at 89%, up from 88% a week ago.
It remains unclear who will represent Russia and Ukraine at the White House on Thursday, and whether a leaders’ summit will receive a date or a role for Kyiv.