US President Donald Trump has announced plans to hold high-level discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Seoul, focusing on ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Trump portrayed Xi as a “strong leader” with the capacity to influence Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing confidence that Xi would be receptive to strategies aimed at halting hostilities between Moscow and Kyiv. Trump indicated that his discussions would be multifaceted, extending beyond conflict resolution to cover trade agreements, tariffs, and strategic resources, including rare earth minerals.
According to Trump, the central agenda of the meeting will be to explore ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war, potentially using energy or economic levers to encourage Moscow toward negotiations. Trump stressed that Xi’s influence over Putin is significant, calling him “a respected man, a very strong leader of a very big country.” He expressed optimism about the potential outcomes of the talks, stating, “What I’ll really be talking to him about is how do we end the war with Russia and Ukraine, whether it’s through oil or energy or anything else. And I think he’s going to be very receptive.”
Beyond the war, Trump signaled that trade discussions would occupy a substantial portion of the dialogue. He mentioned plans to address a range of economic issues, including the trade of soybeans and rare earth elements, which are essential for advanced technologies such as electronics and defense systems. Trump suggested that nuclear topics could also be discussed, highlighting the wide-ranging nature of the bilateral meeting. “I think we’ll make a deal,” he said, “The rare earth is the least of it; we’re going to make a deal on soybeans and the farmers. Maybe even nuclear.”
Trump has long criticized China for what he views as unfair trade practices, particularly export restrictions on rare earth elements. He warned that the United States holds leverage and is prepared to impose substantial tariffs if Beijing does not relax these restrictions. The president confirmed that a 155 percent tariff on Chinese imports would be implemented starting November 1, while simultaneously framing the approach as a negotiation tactic rather than outright hostility. Trump maintained that, despite his tough stance, he seeks to preserve a cooperative relationship with Beijing, describing his preference to “be nice” but insisting on addressing decades of perceived trade imbalances.
The upcoming APEC talks are therefore poised to be high-stakes, blending diplomacy, economic strategy, and geopolitical maneuvering. Trump aims to use the meeting not only to advance the US agenda on trade and tariffs but also to leverage China’s influence in seeking an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. By positioning Xi as a key mediator, the US president is signaling that Beijing could play a decisive role in shaping the war's trajectory and the broader global balance of power.
Observers note that the meeting takes place amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing, with trade disputes, technology restrictions, and the management of rare earth supply chains dominating bilateral relations. By combining discussions of conflict resolution with trade negotiations, Trump appears to be pursuing a dual-track approach that seeks both immediate geopolitical results and long-term economic leverage. The outcomes of these discussions could have far-reaching implications for US-China relations, the resolution of the Ukraine conflict, and global trade dynamics.
