Trump, Putin and Xi to hold nuclear talks next week

US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks on nuclear weapons next Thursday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China.

The meeting, confirmed by the White House and the Kremlin, will bring together leaders of the world’s three largest nuclear powers for an unprecedented discussion on nuclear arms control.

However, a senior US official told The Associated Press that no new agreements are expected to emerge from the meeting, describing it as the beginning of a potentially productive dialogue on nuclear disarmament.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump would likely steer discussions away from the war in Ukraine.

The talks come amid growing concerns over global nuclear arsenals and the absence of restrictions on US and Russian stockpiles following the expiration of their last nuclear arms control treaty in February.

The United States and Russia are each believed to possess more than 5,000 nuclear warheads, while China is estimated to have over 600, according to Pentagon figures.

Washington and Moscow have previously signed nuclear arms control agreements, but Beijing has shown little interest in joining such arrangements.

Trump earlier rejected a Russian proposal to extend the expired treaty for two years, calling instead for a new, improved and modernised agreement that would include China.

The meeting could also carry broader geopolitical significance. Chinese President Xi Jinping may use the gathering to strengthen Beijing’s international standing, while Putin could seek to reinforce Russia’s position alongside the world’s two largest economies.

Analysts, however, expect the meeting to be more symbolic than substantive, with no major breakthrough anticipated.