According to Bloomberg sources close to the Kremlin's inner circle, Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to personally attend the APEC summit, which will be held on November 18–19, 2026, in the Chinese city of Shenzhen under the chairmanship of Xi Jinping. At the same time, according to the same reports, the chances of his participation in the G20 summit in Florida (USA) are assessed as extremely low. Thus, judging by the leaks, Moscow is betting on bilateral dialogue with Beijing, pushing the "Group of Twenty" format into the background.
Trip to China: First Personal Appearance at APEC Since 2017
If the visit takes place, it will mark Putin's first direct participation in an APEC leaders' meeting since 2017. For Moscow, the trip to Shenzhen appears to be a priority: it allows strengthening bilateral dialogue with Beijing and demonstrating a presence at the key forum of the Asia-Pacific region without the need to attend a summit where the Ukrainian side may be present and where the format of the meeting is less controllable for the Russian leader.
Why the G20 Summit in Florida Is in Question
Bloomberg sources indicate that the Kremlin has almost no expectations of a breakthrough in negotiations on ending the war before the "Group of Twenty" date. Russian officials, according to the publication, are increasingly disappointed in the work of US President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. An additional irritant is the risk of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appearing at the summit, which, according to sources, makes the very format of the meeting undesirable for Putin.
Constraints: Sanctions, Security, and the ICC Warrant
Regardless of diplomatic calculations, Putin remains constrained in international travel due to sanctions pressure, security risks, and the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in 2023 on suspicion of the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. These factors make any foreign visit logistically and politically sensitive, while China is a more predictable and safer destination.
Positions of the Parties: Peskov, Lavrov, and Trump
Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow expects a new trilateral meeting involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, and that the possibility of such a meeting had already been discussed by Russian representatives with American negotiators. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the US approach to the peace process a "positive signal" and asserted that Moscow positively perceives Washington's willingness to take the situation on the front into account. Trump, for his part, stated that he is ready to meet with Putin after Moscow agrees to end the war against Ukraine.
Contradictory Data
There is an inconsistency here between the official rhetoric and the actual plans. On the one hand, Peskov and Lavrov publicly emphasize Moscow's readiness for negotiations and expect a trilateral meeting, which logically implies participation in a summit where such formats could be discussed. On the other hand, anonymous Bloomberg sources paint a picture in which the Kremlin, to the contrary, intends to skip the G20, focusing on the visit to China. At the same time, neither side has officially confirmed or refuted Putin's plans, so both versions remain in the realm of leaks and statements rather than confirmed decisions.
