Zelensky Turns to Beijing in Latest Bid to End Ukraine War

International Desk. October 25, 2026.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said China has significant influence over Russia and urged Beijing to use that influence to end the war in Ukraine, while warning against any decision on Ukraine’s future that excludes it or divides the war-torn country during a possible trilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky made these remarks while participating virtually in an event organized by the Washington-based research organization Hudson Institute on Friday.

Zelensky said he did not know what would be discussed at a possible meeting between the three leaders. However, he referred to China as a powerful country, saying that China, one of Russia’s largest trading partners, has influence over Moscow and that influence could be used to stop the war.

The potential meeting between Trump, Xi and Putin is scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18 and 19. However, no details have been released yet.

Zelensky said they have always supported multilateral meetings, but opposed any initiative to determine the future of Ukraine without leaving it out of the discussion.

He said, “There is no decision about Ukraine without Ukraine.”

“I hope that no one will divide Ukraine. This is not easy for us. We need friends — not friends of Russia,” Zelensky said, emphasizing Ukraine’s participation in any peace agreement to end the nearly four-and-a-half-year war.

He also said that it could be positive to take steps to end the war through US mediation, European support, and talks with Russia. China could play a role in that effort if it really wants to help.

Putin proposes trilateral meeting

The Wall Street Journal, a US media outlet , reported on Sunday that Putin, in a phone call with Trump earlier this month, proposed trilateral talks between the leaders of the United States, China, and Russia on the sidelines of the APEC summit to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump said on Monday that he was interested in meeting with Putin and Xi Jinping, but his main focus was on efforts to denuclearize the three nuclear powers rather than ending the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Tsipras opposed holding peace talks without Kyiv in a post on social media on Monday. According to him, keeping Ukraine out of the talks could encourage Putin to continue the war. A direct trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the United States and Russia could pave the way for a quick end to the war.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff greets Russian President Vladimir Putin before a meeting at the Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Kiev is reluctant to give up territory, Moscow also wants security guarantees

Ukraine is not willing to give up any of its pre-war territory at the end of the war, and Kiev is also seeking security guarantees from the United States and its European allies.

Russia, on the other hand, demands that Ukraine cede part of the eastern Donbas region, which is currently under the control of both Russia and Ukraine. Russian forces have occupied large areas of Donbas since the start of the war.

Moscow has been opposing a short-term ceasefire until a long-term security framework is finalized. Russia’s position is that a temporary ceasefire is needed, rather than an agreement that ensures the security of both countries.

Ukraine-US-Russia talks may resume in November

Zelensky said at the Hudson Institute event that he had spoken with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner just before his speech, after meeting in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday.

According to Zelensky, they agreed to hold trilateral talks at the official level with representatives of Ukraine, the United States and Russia as soon as possible in the first half of November. He mentioned Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as a possible meeting venue. The Ukrainian president also mentioned the possibility of including European countries in the talks.

Moscow agreed in principle to resume trilateral talks with Washington and Kiev after November 10, after Witkoff’s meeting with Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, according to Yuri Ushakov, a foreign affairs adviser to the Russian president.

In an interview with Russian television on Thursday, Putin also said he was ready to resume talks with Ukraine next month under US mediation. However, he said the goal should be not just a short-term ceasefire, but a solution that would ensure the security of Russia and Ukraine.

Three rounds of talks before, little progress

This year, the United States, Ukraine, and Russia have held three rounds of trilateral talks. Two in Abu Dhabi in January and February, and another in Geneva in February. However, no significant progress has been reported in these talks. The stalemate between Russian and Ukrainian forces on the battlefield also continues.

Meanwhile, Zelensky also supported the possibility of a ceasefire while maintaining the current position on the Ukrainian front.

In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday , he said that stabilizing the front lines could be a realistic way to establish a ceasefire to end the long-running conflict. But he also noted that security guarantees from the United States and European allies are essential for such an initiative to be effective.