The key facts

  • Rubio: a US-Russia-China summit would be 'a very positive event for the world'
  • Trump expressed openness to trilateral talks; the main topic is nuclear disarmament
  • Peskov confirmed that discussions are ongoing, with no agreed agenda

Rubio's Statement in India

On Tuesday, October 20, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists in India that a possible summit involving the leaders of the US, Russia and China would be 'a very positive event for the world.' According to him, there is an opportunity for talks at the level of the leaders of the three countries on issues such as arms control, and President Donald Trump has expressed readiness for this. Rubio noted that communication between the three most powerful nuclear powers is not something 'unusual.'

Diplomacy Not as a Reward

Rubio rejected the argument that diplomatic engagement should be seen as a reward: Trump does not consider negotiations with other countries a concession. He called the ability to communicate with the other side 'the foundation of diplomacy and negotiation.' Acknowledging that long-standing disagreements between the three countries will not disappear after a single summit, he emphasized the importance of maintaining contacts: 'The world is safer when the leaders of the countries with the most powerful nuclear arsenals at least talk to each other.'

China's Position and Trump's Initiative

Rubio said that China has historically avoided arms control discussions until its nuclear arsenal reached parity with those of other major powers. Nevertheless, in his view, it is 'a good thing' that the US has a president 'willing to try.' The statement followed Trump's remarks on Monday about openness to trilateral talks with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping; Trump named nuclear disarmament as the main topic of such talks.

Context and the Kremlin's Position

The proposal emerged after The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing a publication, that Putin proposed holding a trilateral meeting next month to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions are ongoing, allowing for the 'hypothetical possibility' of such talks in the absence of an agreed agenda.