Trump, Putin and Xi at one table, without Ukraine. What Moscow wants from the proposal and why Beijing might agree.

Russia is pushing for a summit involving Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to discuss the Ukraine conflict, excluding Ukraine and the EU. Moscow seeks to negotiate terms favorable to itself, while China may participate symbolically without taking responsibility. The Kremlin hopes to leverage this meeting to pressure Ukraine and the EU into concessions. Analysts suggest that while China has strategic interests aligned with Russia, it prioritizes maintaining its relationship with Ukraine and ensuring Putin's political survival. The exclusion of Ukraine and the EU from talks may reflect China's view of their influence, though some argue that Europe still holds significant sway in the negotiations.