The Kremlin has raised the prospect of Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President 
Donald Trump and Chinese President 
Xi Jinping holding a three-way meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit China hosts in November. Asked on Russian state television on Tuesday about the possibility of such a meeting, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said: "This issue was discussed, yes." He said all three leaders were expected to attend the summit, adding: "And if it turns out as has been said, then the three of them will be able to have a meeting."
Where did the idea come from? Ushakov was speaking from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where Putin and Xi had attended a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Xi met Putin in the Kyrgyz capital during that trip, Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) reported. In remarks carried by the Liberty Times, Ushakov, the Kremlin's foreign policy adviser, said the two leaders had discussed the three-way meeting during the SCO gathering. Putin sees the proposed talks as a way to break out of diplomatic isolation, the Liberty Times reported, citing Bloomberg.
How did Washington respond? The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Kremlin's remarks. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly, in comments carried by CNA in a later dispatch, said there was currently no announcement regarding President Trump's attendance at the summit.
When and where is the summit? APEC groups 21 member economies, among them Russia, the United States and China, CNA reported. This year's leaders' summit will be held in Shenzhen, China, on November 18-19.
Figures referenced: Donald Trump, Xi Jinping. — JudgeMarket.
