Trump Announces Trilateral Meeting with Putin, Xi in China
American President Donald Trump announced his readiness to host a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Chinese city of Shenzhen. The gathering is scheduled for November 18-19 as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Trump made the statement to reporters at the White House briefing room before heading to a campaign event in Kansas.
The president emphasized nuclear disarmament as his top priority but said he would also discuss the war in Ukraine with his counterparts. “Someone else should be negotiating on behalf of Ukraine,” Trump said, accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of not being ready for deals.
“What is happening – there is weak movement on the front lines, and millions of people are dying. They are losing their men,” Trump told reporters, without clarifying which side he meant and likely referring to the frontline situation.
Ukraine Regroups and Recaptures Territory
Ukraine has been in active defense for months, blocking Russian advances and recapturing parts of the Donetsk region. “Very difficult, but step by step we are regaining our land,” Zelenskyy said during an online meeting with representatives from both parties and in both chambers of the American Congress. He added that Ukraine has conducted two successful operations – “Vivalldy” in the Donetsk region and actions by the Special Forces group in the Odesa direction.
Trump claimed Russia was not escalating in Ukraine, stating, “Russia is behaving well with Ukraine and does not do anything unknown,” while noting that millions are dying in this war. He also stated he is conducting negotiations with Russia and has no intention to interrupt them.
Russian Strikes Devastate Ukrainian Cities
Russian ballistic missiles and drones have increased in recent days, hitting energy infrastructure across the country and causing significant damage to residential buildings, subway stations in Kyiv, schools, medical facilities, and even playgrounds. On the afternoon of October 19, a drone struck a city park in Kharkiv, killing six people including an infant and child. Fifteen people were injured, including six children.
The White House is withholding approval for delivery of Patriot missile systems. Despite claims that Russia “does not do anything unknown” in Ukraine, the U.S. military has not approved a prepared delivery of Patriot missiles purchased under NATO’s PURL program, nor allowed transfer of missiles from European stockpiles. Zelenskyy confirmed these media reports to congressional representatives.
He added that during negotiations with the U.S., he proposed a 30-day suspension of attacks on Russian refineries, but in exchange for sufficient Patriot missiles to defend Ukraine against Russian strikes. “I think this was fair, but there was no readiness for this option,” he added.
Negotiations Stall Over Arms Delivery
A meeting between Zelenskyy and American negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Norway is also possible this week, and he added that he would request clarification on positions regarding delivery delays, suspension of intelligence data transfers, and restrictions on Starlink and Starshield services.
An advisor in the President’s Office, Serhiy Leshchenko, noted that Zelenskyy has a planned pre-visit to Norway and there is probability that Kushner and Witkoff will arrive for talks. There were plans for such a meeting in Brussels during the European Council, but due to the tension between the two sides, it was postponed.
Recently, SpaceX owner Elon Musk said on social network X that he did not personally order restrictions on satellite internet usage for Ukraine, and Starshield – the military package of Starlink – is under Pentagon control.
