Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed holding a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The suggestion, conveyed during a phone call with Trump on October 9, was reported by the Wall Street Journal and involves discussions potentially held during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen in November. Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not be included in this proposed meeting, raising concerns amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and its largest military supporter, the United States.

The timing of Putin’s summit proposal coincides with a series of moves by the Trump administration perceived as favoring Russia, including a temporary lift on sanctions targeting Russian diesel exports and an executive order waiving new sanctions from legislation initially introduced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Trump has defended these decisions by emphasizing the need to keep Russia engaged in peace negotiations and to avoid driving it away from the bargaining table. However, Zelenskyy criticized these measures on social media, arguing that they are misguided and warning that they could prompt Ukraine to capitulate under pressure.

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia remains fierce as military strikes continue amid failed attempts at ceasefires. Ukraine has launched drone attacks on Russian infrastructure while Russia has retaliated with missile attacks on Kyiv. An “energy ceasefire” initially announced by Trump in mid-October failed to yield reciprocal actions from Moscow, and Ukraine resumed strikes after a brief pause. Zelenskyy has accused U.S. moves of undermining Ukraine’s position by providing Russia with economic relief and emboldening its war efforts.

Amid these geopolitical developments, tensions have also emerged over technology aid. Kyiv accused Washington of restricting Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet used by Ukrainian forces. Although Trump denied White House involvement, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk indicated that restrictions were ordered by the U.S. government, resulting in connectivity losses for certain drones. Zelenskyy suggested these restrictions were deliberate, signaling friction between Ukraine and its Western backers within the broader conflict dynamics.