# Xi, Trump, and Putin Summit Sparks Fears of Modern Yalta Conference Global leaders gather in Shenzhen amid concerns over potential redistribution of world influence spheres. - **Source:** [Hong Kong Free Press](https://hongkongfp.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e3591b4f-8e14-4ae4-9359-9e8049bec914 ## Historical Parallels and Concerns The upcoming APEC summit in Shenzhen featuring Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin has drawn comparisons to the 1945 Yalta Conference. Critics fear this meeting could signal a return to great power politics, where dominant nations unilaterally redraw global boundaries and spheres of influence without consulting the affected sovereign states. ## Ukraine and European Security Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed alarm that the summit might facilitate a redistribution of power that undermines European security. Recent negotiations in Abu Dhabi highlighted Russian attempts to review continental security architectures, causing significant anxiety among European allies who fear being sidelined in critical discussions regarding their own regional stability. ## Divergent Agendas Among Leaders Despite the high-profile nature of the meeting, analysts suggest a grand bargain is unlikely due to conflicting priorities. Russia seeks to focus on Ukraine, while the Trump administration prioritizes nuclear weapons and the Iran conflict. China remains largely silent on these specific agendas, complicating the potential for any unified diplomatic breakthrough. ## China's Stance on Multilateralism Beijing has publicly maintained that Europe must be included in any peace negotiations concerning the Ukraine conflict. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted that Xi Jinping expressed irritation when the prospect of excluding Europeans from these talks was raised, suggesting China may resist the optics of a purely trilateral, exclusionary power arrangement. ## Nuclear and Strategic Stalemates On the issue of nuclear disarmament, China continues to insist that the United States and Russia must reduce their massive arsenals before it considers limiting its own stockpile. Consequently, experts anticipate the summit will likely produce only minor outcomes, such as establishing crisis hotlines or limited cooperation on climate and public health. ## Taiwan's Strategic Observation Taiwan is monitoring the Shenzhen summit with extreme caution, fearing that the Trump administration might sacrifice smaller partners for geopolitical convenience. If the United States demonstrates a willingness to abandon Ukraine, observers worry that Taiwan could face similar abandonment, fundamentally altering the security landscape for the island nation in the Pacific. ## The Absence of Unifying Enemies Unlike the 1945 Yalta Conference, which was unified by the common goal of defeating Nazi Germany, no single enemy currently aligns the interests of Washington, Beijing, and Moscow. This lack of a shared existential threat makes a cohesive, long-term agreement between the three powers significantly more difficult to achieve during these talks. ## Long-term Diplomatic Implications The original Yalta Conference eventually paved the way for decades of Cold War conflicts across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Experts warn that any modern attempt to recreate such a structure will likely encounter similar systemic failures, as the current global order is far more interconnected than the post-WWII era allowed. ## Sources covering this story - https://hongkongfp.com/2026/11/12/xi-trump-putin-summit-in-shenzhen-evokes-1945-yalta-carve-up/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._