WASHINGTON (AP) — In a candid exchange with reporters on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, could wield significant leverage over Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the grinding war in Ukraine, just days before the two leaders convene on the sidelines of a major Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea.
The remarks, delivered from the familiar confines of the Oval Office, underscore a pivotal shift in Trump's diplomatic strategy. After months of direct outreach to Putin yielding little beyond frustration, the president is pivoting toward Beijing as a potential mediator. "Yeah, I do. I think he can have a big influence on Putin… And we will certainly be talking about Russia-Ukraine," Trump stated bluntly when pressed on whether Xi could sway the Kremlin to the negotiating table.
This comes amid Trump's broader announcement of an upcoming Asian tour, encompassing stops in Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. The itinerary is anchored by bilateral talks with Xi during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, set for October 30 to November 1 in the South Korean city of Gyeongju. "In South Korea, I'll be meeting with President Xi of China. We can work out a lot of our questions and our doubts and our tremendous assets together," Trump elaborated, emphasizing the session's potential to address not only the Ukraine crisis but also simmering U.S.-China tensions over trade, technology, and fentanyl trafficking.
Trump, who has long touted his personal rapport with global strongmen, described his bond with Xi as "very good" and anticipated a "pretty long" dialogue. This isn't mere rhetoric; the two leaders have a track record of marathon summits, including a two-hour phone call earlier this month that reportedly advanced a framework for salvaging TikTok's U.S. operations and easing export controls on semiconductors. Yet, the Ukraine angle marks a new layer of urgency, as the conflict enters its fourth year with no end in sight.
The backdrop to Trump's overture is a cascade of diplomatic setbacks with Moscow. Just this week, the White House scrapped a planned summit between Trump and Putin in Hungary, originally slated for late October. The cancellation, confirmed Tuesday, stems from Russia's outright dismissal of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal that called for a 30-day pause in hostilities, coupled with economic incentives like relaxed sanctions on Russian energy exports. "Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don't go anywhere," Trump vented to journalists, his tone laced with rare exasperation. Kremlin spokespeople dismissed the overture as "unrealistic," insisting that any talks must first address Ukraine's alleged NATO flirtations—a nonstarter for Kyiv.
Analysts view this impasse as emblematic of broader geopolitical realignments. Since Trump's inauguration earlier this year, Putin has deepened ties with Xi, including a high-profile appearance together at a September military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II's end. Flanked by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the trio projected an image of unyielding solidarity against Western pressure—a stark contrast to Trump's sidelined overtures. Russia's reliance on Chinese components for its war machine despite Beijing's official stance of neutrality underscores the complex dynamics at play.
China's position on the war has been a tightrope walk. Publicly, Xi has advocated for "peaceful dialogue" and hosted backchannel talks between Russian and Ukrainian envoys in 2024. Privately, however, Beijing has faced U.S. accusations of enabling Moscow through dual-use exports, prompting fresh tariffs from the Trump administration. Trump's gamble—that Xi's sway over Putin could unlock progress—hinges on mutual interests. "I believe he would like to see it ended," Trump said of Xi's purported views, suggesting discussions might touch on energy deals or oil price stabilization, areas where China, as the world's top importer, holds sway.
The APEC forum itself amplifies the stakes. Hosted by South Korea for the first time since 1991, the gathering brings together 21 economies representing 60% of global GDP. Topics on the docket include supply-chain resilience, climate finance, and digital trade—arenas where U.S.-China friction could either escalate or ease. Trump's delegation includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who confirmed last week that the Xi meeting remains "on track" despite recent spats over electric vehicle subsidies. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, a staunch U.S. ally, has quietly endorsed the Trump-Xi channel as a "constructive step," per Seoul's foreign ministry, while urging focus on North Korean provocations.
Beyond Ukraine, the summit carries ripple effects for Trump's domestic agenda. Polls show the war's economic fallout—skyrocketing energy prices and inflation tied to disrupted grain exports—eroding support among Midwestern voters, a key 2024 constituency. Ending the conflict could burnish Trump's "America First" credentials, especially if it unlocks cheaper Russian liquefied natural gas for Europe, indirectly benefiting U.S. LNG exporters. Critics, however, warn of naivety. European leaders, fresh from a Washington huddle last month, have urged caution, fearing any Xi-brokered deal might legitimize territorial grabs in Donbas.
On Capitol Hill, reactions were predictably polarized. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC) hailed the move as "smart realpolitik," arguing it exploits the "no-limits" Russia-China pact's fissures—Russia's unease over Chinese inroads into Siberia, for instance. Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, decried it as "outsourcing American leadership to an adversary," invoking Xi's human rights record in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. "Handing Putin a lifeline via Beijing undermines our NATO commitments," Jeffries tweeted, echoing concerns from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has lobbied for uninterrupted U.S. arms flows.
Zelenskyy's team, in a Kyiv briefing, welcomed the diplomatic push but stressed red lines: no concessions on Crimea or eastern territories without ironclad security guarantees. "We appreciate President Trump's persistence," a spokesperson said, "but peace must be just, not a dictation from afar."
Looking ahead, the South Korea talks could set the tone for 2026's packed calendar, including Trump's planned China visit and Xi's reciprocal trip to Washington. Yet, Trump's frustration with Putin—marked by "empty threats of sanctions" and unmet deadlines—reveals the limits of his dealmaker persona. Tentative progress on fentanyl curbs, with China agreeing to tighter precursor chemical controls in exchange for TikTok concessions, offers a glimmer of bilateral momentum. Still, trade hawks in Trump's orbit, like Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, remain skeptical, citing Beijing's $500 billion annual trade surplus as a persistent thorn.
In the Oval Office glow, Trump brushed aside doubters. "Xi is a respected man, a very strong leader, very big country," he said, invoking their shared history of "tremendous" deals. Whether this yields a Ukraine breakthrough or merely another photo-op remains the trillion-dollar question. As global markets hang in suspense—Dow futures dipped 0.5% on the news—the world watches if Trump's Asia gambit can rewrite the script on one of the 21st century's defining conflicts.
This diplomatic whirl occurs against a tableau of escalating proxy tensions. In the Indo-Pacific, U.S. carrier groups shadow Chinese drills near Taiwan, while NATO's Mark Rutte warns of Russian "energy blackmail" in Europe. India's neutral stance—courting both Washington and Moscow for cheap oil—adds another wildcard, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly advising Trump to "multilateralize" Ukraine talks via the Quad alliance.
For Ukraine's weary citizens, now numbering 38 million amid displacement, the rhetoric rings both hopeful and hollow. Kharkiv shelled overnight, Luhansk fields fallow—each day tallies fresh tolls. If Xi's "big influence" materializes, it could herald respite; if not, Trump's tour risks cementing perceptions of a "lightweight" commander-in-chief.
As Marine One rotors whir for Andrews Air Force Base departures, the onus falls to Gyeongju's marbled halls. There, amid kimchi banquets and cherry blossoms, two titans will chart paths for three nuclear powers—and a world teetering on their choices.
