This comes as Trump and Zelensky publicly criticize the other's decisions, with Trump claiming that Zelensky 'doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did.'
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a meeting with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday night, citing people familiar with the discussions.
The talks would not involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, an unprecedented move which would be expected to alarm many European countries, WSJ wrote.
According to the report, the Kremlin suggested the three leaders meet on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which takes place Nov. 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, southern China.
Putin first suggested the meeting while speaking to Trump on October 9, in the same conversation in which the two leaders agreed that the US would buy Russian diesel fuel and facilitate its sale, a former Russian intelligence officer told WSJ.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions over a potential meeting were ongoing.
“There is no clear understanding yet regarding the meeting itself or its potential agenda, although all three parties acknowledge the hypothetical possibility of such a meeting taking place,” he told WSJ.
A senior US official told WSJ that Trump hadn't agreed to the meeting but may be receptive to the idea due to his desire to end the war.
Trump, Zelensky clash over Ukrainian attacks, US sanctions
This comes as Trump and Zelensky publicly criticize the other's decisions, with Zelensky saying on Saturday that Trump's decision to waive sanctions on Russia and tariffs on its goods days before they were to take effect will embolden Moscow to keep attacking Ukraine, and Trump suggesting that Ukraine needs a new president.
Trump claimed that Zelensky "doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did," in a post on Truth Social earlier on Sunday, calling on the Ukrainian leader to stop attacking Russian diesel refineries.
Neither the White House nor the Chinese Embassy in Washington has commented on the report, but analysts told WSJ that a meeting between Trump, Xi, and Putin could advance Xi's ambitions for China's place in global diplomacy.
“China wants to be seen as the pivot of the great powers, and potentially as a mediator between the US and Russia,” Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, a Washington think tank, told WSJ.
However, Chinese officials have expressed concern that the meeting could overshadow China's role in the region at APEC, according to the report.
People familiar with the discussions told WSJ that Xi is also trying to balance support for Putin and economic ties with Europe. A meeting with Putin and Trump to discuss Ukraine could raise the risk of European backlash.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.