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Briefings · Monday, October 19, 2026 · 🌙 6 AM
🌙 6 AM · While you slept

Putin proposes a Ukraine summit with Trump and Xi, without Zelenskyy

The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the discussions, that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a summit next month with President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The idea was reportedly raised in an Oct. 9 phone call, and the Kremlin suggested the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, on Nov. 18-19. Ukraine's president would not take part. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed discussions but said there is no clear understanding yet of the meeting or its agenda. A senior U.S. official told the Journal that Trump has not agreed but could be receptive.

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How each side sees it

The Kremlin saysSpokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed discussions on a possible meeting are taking place but said there is "no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda."
The U.S. saysA senior U.S. official told the WSJ that Trump has not agreed to a summit but could be receptive. Trump wrote that he is "in the process of negotiating Peace" and that he paused sanctions so as not to push Russia away from the table. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there has been talk of a meeting but he does not know whether it has been finalized.
Ukraine saysPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that waiving sanctions would strengthen Putin's war effort and that siding with Moscow would be a "historic mistake" for Washington.

Sources

Checked against 4 established news sources:

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Published Monday, October 19, 2026. Spot an error? Email [email protected]. See our corrections log and standards.

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