Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Sunday that Moscow has not ruled out a trilateral meeting between the presidents of Russia, the US and China has not been ruled out, state news agency TASS reported.
However, before moving on to the actual preparations for the meeting, it is necessary to understand what its agenda will be, Ryabkov said.
"Here, the main question boils down to how the substance of the meeting will be formulated, and what we can expect as a result."
Earlier this month, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov raised the possibility of such a meeting between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, in November.
Such a gathering would represent a rare direct encounter among the leaders of the three major nuclear powers and largest economies at a time of heightened global strategic competition.
US-Russia relations remain deeply strained over the Ukraine conflict and related sanctions, while US-China ties continue to be defined by rivalry in trade, technology, and Indo-Pacific security.
Beijing has deepened its comprehensive strategic partnership with Moscow through expanded energy trade, joint military drills, and diplomatic coordination, while officially maintaining neutrality on Ukraine.
APEC summits traditionally emphasise economic integration in the Asia-Pacific and have previously served as neutral platforms for high-level bilateral or multilateral side meetings.
