Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed a three-way summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on ending the war in Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal. The proposal reportedly makes no provision for the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the report, Moscow is seeking a deal on terms favourable to Russia.
The report comes as Trump steps up his attacks on Zelensky. He accuses him of not wanting peace and defends the suspension of sanctions against Russia as a way of keeping negotiations open.
According to the newspaper, Putin made the proposal during a phone call with Trump on 9 October. During the same call, the two sides also reached an agreement on supplying Russian diesel to the US and international markets.
The proposal for a summit without Zelensky
Citing a former Russian intelligence official, The Wall Street Journal reports that Putin suggested a meeting with the presidents of the US and China in November. Its aim would be to negotiate a deal on the war in Ukraine.
According to the report, the Russian side proposed holding the summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, scheduled for November in Shenzhen, China.
The key element of the proposal is that it does not provide for the participation of the Ukrainian president, even though the talks would directly concern his country’s future.
The newspaper notes that such a development could cause serious concern in European capitals, because the three leaders would be discussing the terms for ending the war without Ukraine’s leadership present.
It has not been confirmed that Trump has accepted the proposal. Moscow is reportedly seeking a diplomatic process that would lead to a settlement favourable to Russian interests.
The diesel agreement and the suspension of sanctions
The timing of Putin’s proposal coincides with the agreement reached on 9 October to increase Russian diesel exports to the United States and other international markets.
Washington has eased restrictions on the sale of Russian fuel. The US administration argues that the agreement serves both the energy market and efforts to restart the peace process.
According to Reuters, US officials believe the diesel agreement could help shift Moscow’s stance and make it easier for Russia to return to substantive negotiations.
The decision has drawn criticism. Critics argue that it gives Russia economic relief without securing corresponding concessions towards ending hostilities.
Trump defends his sanctions decision
Against this background, Trump launched a fresh attack on Zelensky in a post on Truth Social on Sunday 18 October.
He defended his decision to suspend new sanctions against Russia and explained that his main goal is to keep Moscow from walking away from negotiations.
“My decision regarding Russia is very simple. I am in the process of negotiating peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and I do not want to do anything that would foolishly drive Russia away from the negotiating table,” he wrote.
Trump also claimed that significant progress has been made in the talks, including what he described as ongoing negotiations on hostages. He did not specify who he was referring to.
He also defended his option to sign the sanctions document at a later date. “Signing this document right now would have that effect, and I can sign it later or whenever I want,” he wrote. He linked the decision to his wish to keep Russia at the negotiating table.
The reference to Iran
In the same post, the US president linked his policy on Russia to developments in the Middle East, particularly Moscow’s stance towards Iran.
He claimed that Russia is currently giving Tehran only limited support compared with what it could provide. “Perhaps most importantly, Russia is doing little, if anything, to help the Islamic Republic of Iran, compared with what it could do,” he wrote.
Trump added that he wants this situation to continue and appeared determined not to allow the balance to be upset, “unless some fools get in the way”.
Accusations over attacks on Russian refineries
The US president was particularly sharp about Ukrainian attacks on energy facilities in Russia.
He accused Zelensky of targeting Russian diesel refineries while knowing, as he claimed, that the attacks seriously affect international fuel markets, including in the US.
“Zelensky is using diesel refineries in Russia as targets, knowing that these attacks severely hit global diesel markets, including those in the United States,” he wrote.
According to Trump, the effects are being felt across many sectors of the US economy. “Farmers, ranchers and businesses of every kind are suffering greatly from this,” he claimed. He added that Russia is still selling millions of barrels of diesel on the international market at low prices.
His comments come as Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities continue, alongside Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Trump’s claims about Zelensky and Ukraine
Trump did not limit himself to criticising the Ukrainian attacks. He also directly questioned Zelensky’s intentions regarding ending the war.
“Zelensky doesn’t care and, frankly, with all the money that, as is well known, Europe gives him, and that ‘corrupt’ Joe Biden gave him in the past, he doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did,” he claimed.
The US president also argued that Ukraine’s leadership missed the chance to secure better terms for the country. “He could have made a better deal two years ago than he can now,” he wrote.
Trump went on to describe the situation in Ukraine in particularly bleak terms. He claimed the country has suffered enormous destruction and losses.
“His country is in ruins, a large part of his territory has been lost, his oceans and seas have been lost, and his male population is depleted, wounded or dead,” he wrote.
These are the US president’s claims, and some of the wording does not reflect Ukraine’s geography literally, such as the reference to the loss of “oceans and seas”.
Trump ended his post with a message in capital letters: “I WANT THIS WAR TO END!”
With information from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters
