Trump Floats 3-Way Nuclear Summit With Putin and Xi as He Courts Russia on Ukraine
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Oct 22
Trump Floats 3-Way Nuclear Summit With Putin and Xi as He Courts Russia on Ukraine
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Oct 22
Summary
Trump said he is open to a three-way meeting with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping on nuclear weapons, extending a broader push to bring Putin back into high-level diplomacy while seeking a Ukraine deal.
White House allies say the warmer tone is deliberate: flattering Putin and avoiding full alignment with Kyiv are meant to coax Russia to the negotiating table after years of failed efforts.
That approach drew Republican criticism after envoy Steve Witkoff called Putin “a humanitarian” following retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard’s release; Sen. Susan Collins called Putin the war’s aggressor and Sen. Thom Tillis mocked the remark.
Trump has also invited Putin to the December G20 at his Doral resort and last week waived sanctions under a Russia bill he signed two months earlier, reinforcing concerns in Europe that any peace could reward aggression.