Diplomacy rarely happens in a vacuum. When world powers start whispering about backroom talks behind the back of the nation actually bleeding on the battlefield, alarm bells ring.
That is exactly what is happening right now. Reports from outlets like The Wall Street Journal indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a high-stakes summit alongside US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The goal? To negotiate a settlement on terms that overwhelmingly favor Moscow.
Kyiv isn't buying it. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha didn't mince words when reacting to the proposal, stating outright that sitting down at a trilateral table with Washington and Beijing without Ukraine would do one thing only: encourage Putin to prolong the war.
The Dangerous Logic of Backroom Deals
Let's look at why Kyiv reacted so sharply. From the perspective of Ukraine's leadership, inviting Putin to a major international summit right now rewards aggression. It feeds his desire for self-aggrandizement and hands him a global stature he hasn't earned.
When superpower leaders gather to carve out a peace deal for a sovereign country without that country in the room, it echoes historical mistakes. It smells like appeasement. Sybiha made the stance crystal clear by labeling Putin a war criminal rather than a legitimate global leader, while describing modern Russia as a global problem rather than a standard partner in diplomacy.
If Washington and Beijing agree to talk terms on Moscow's wishlist, what incentive does the Kremlin have to stop bombing power grids or launching drone strikes? None. It signals to Moscow that endurance pays off, and that patience on the battlefield will eventually break Western and Asian resolve.
What Putin Actually Wants from Trump and Xi
The timing of this rumored summit proposal—conveniently floated around the window of the upcoming APEC summit—isn't accidental. Moscow understands the shifting political winds in Washington. With Donald Trump pushing hard to end the conflict quickly and expressing frustration with the ongoing stalemate, the Kremlin sees an opening to bypass Kyiv entirely.
By pulling Chinese President Xi Jinping into the frame alongside Trump, Moscow wants to project an image of an unshakeable geopolitical axis. It's a power play designed to isolate Ukraine and pressure Western capitals into accepting territorial concessions.
Ukraine's counter-proposal is simple and unwavering. Kyiv insists that any serious diplomatic track must include Ukraine at the table alongside the US and Russia. They argue that a genuine path to peace requires Moscow to take concrete, verifiable steps first—such as agreeing to a baseline ceasefire—before any world leaders grant the Kremlin the photo-ops it craves.
The Cost of Sidelining Ukraine
Excluding Kyiv from high-level negotiations sets a dangerous precedent. It tells smaller nations worldwide that great powers can redraw borders over their heads whenever it's convenient for global trade or electoral politics.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned that if Ukraine falls or is forced into a capitulation disguised as peace, the ripple effects will hit Europe and the rest of the democratic world hard. Millions of displaced people, shattered security architecture, and a emboldened authoritarian bloc are risks that extend far beyond Eastern Europe.
Right now, diplomacy is walking a tightrope. Washington's pivot toward aggressive peace talks has created deep anxiety in Kyiv. If US envoys and Russian diplomats forge a framework that ignores Ukrainian sovereignty, the war won't end—it will simply transform into an even more volatile phase.
The ball is now in the court of Washington and Beijing. They can either legitimize a unilateral land grab that guarantees future conflicts, or insist that true peace requires the voice of the people defending their homes.
