U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed criticisms head-on this Tuesday regarding the potential trilateral summit involving President Donald Trump, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and China's Xi Jinping. Rubio emphasized the need for a mature approach in international diplomacy.
Speaking to the press from Mumbai, India, where he is on an official visit, Rubio remarked, "We need to grow up a bit when it comes to foreign policy. It's entirely reasonable for the leaders of the world's three most powerful nuclear nations to engage in dialogue. It makes perfect sense," he stated.
The Secretary of State was responding to detractors—especially from Ukraine—who argue that negotiating with Putin amounts to making concessions.
"That's nonsense. For instance, how do you expect to secure a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine without engaging in talks? You have to speak with them, right? That's the foundation of diplomacy and negotiation," Rubio stressed.
Rubio defended Trump's stance, saying the President "does not equate dialogue with concession" and described a potential discussion among these three leaders about arms control as "very positive for the world."
The proposed summit is set to occur on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Shenzhen, China, scheduled for November 18-19. The idea emerged during a call between Trump and Putin on October 9, and Trump publicly announced it a day before Rubio's comments.
The Kremlin acknowledged the topic was discussed but denied any finalized agreement. Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, stated on Tuesday that there is no current information on a possible three-way summit.
Rubio admitted uncertainty about Beijing's willingness to join such discussions. "The only way to find out is to try. I understand their historical stance, but it's unclear why it would be surprising," he noted, referring to China's usual condition of reaching nuclear capability parity before joining arms control talks.
The strongest opposition came from Kyiv. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga warned on Monday that "inviting Putin to such a meeting would bolster his ego and grant him undeserved status."
Amidst the controversy over the summit, Rubio had a 45-minute conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing tensions over missile interceptor supplies, intelligence sharing, and access to Starlink. Rubio dismissed claims that Washington is undermining Ukraine and called allegations of withheld information costing Ukrainian lives "outrageous."
The geopolitical landscape adds urgency to the debate: the New START treaty, the last binding strategic arms control framework between Washington and Moscow, expired in February 2026, leaving both powers without agreed-upon limits on their nuclear arsenals.
"I believe the world is safer when the leaders of countries with the most powerful nuclear arsenals at least communicate with one another," Rubio concluded.
Diplomatic Engagement with Rival Nations: Key Questions Answered
Why does Marco Rubio support dialogue with rival leaders?
Marco Rubio advocates for dialogue with rival leaders because he believes it is essential for diplomacy and negotiation, especially when dealing with nuclear powers. He argues that communication among global leaders makes the world safer.
What is the proposed summit between Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping about?
The proposed summit aims to facilitate discussions between the leaders of the United States, Russia, and China on topics such as arms control, amidst the expiration of the New START treaty, leaving a lack of binding agreements on nuclear arsenals.
What are the concerns from Ukraine regarding the summit?
Ukraine is concerned that inviting Putin to the summit could boost his status and validate his actions. They argue that it might be perceived as making concessions to Russia, which is why Kyiv opposes this meeting.