Moscow not ruling out trilateral meeting of Russian, US and Chinese leaders, agencies report - Reuters

**Moscow Not Ruling Out Trilateral Meeting of Russian, U.S. and Chinese Leaders, Agencies Report**

Moscow signaled on Thursday that it remains open to the idea of a trilateral summit involving President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to Russian state news agency TASS and the foreign ministry’s spokesperson. The reports, cited by Reuters, indicate that Russian officials have not dismissed the prospect of such a gathering, although no formal invitation or agenda has been set. The potential meeting would likely be convened on the sidelines of the Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit scheduled for November in San Francisco, where China’s Xi is expected to attend.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters that a trilateral dialogue could serve “the interests of global stability” and help address a range of issues from security to economic cooperation. Ryabkov added that the timing would be most convenient during APEC, when all three heads of state are expected to be present in the United States, and that Moscow would welcome any initiative that reduces geopolitical friction. While the United States has not publicly confirmed a desire for a three‑way summit, senior U.S. officials have previously hinted that direct contact with both Moscow and Beijing could be useful in managing tensions over Ukraine and the Taiwan Strait.

Analysts note that a trilateral meeting would be a marked shift from the current pattern of bilateral talks and sanctions‑driven confrontations. It could provide a platform for candid discussion on contentious topics such as the war in Ukraine, Chinese maritime activities, and U.S. arms control proposals, but would also require delicate diplomatic choreography amid mutual distrust. Until concrete arrangements are announced, the idea remains speculative, though Moscow’s openness signals a willingness to explore high‑level engagement if the circumstances align.