Trump and Xi Summit: Agreement to 'Work Together' on Ukraine, No Discussion on Taiwan

The summit between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, held on Thursday in South Korea, carried significant political implications, with Trump announcing an agreement to "work together" on the war in Ukraine.

Outcomes of the Bilateral Summit

• Cooperation on Ukraine: Trump told reporters from Air Force One that "Ukraine was a major point of interest. We talked about it extensively, and we will be working together to see if we can get something done."

• Absence of Taiwan Issue: Conversely, Trump confirmed that he did not discuss the Taiwan issue with the Chinese President during their meeting, clarifying: "Taiwan was never touched upon."

Meeting and Protocol Details

• Meeting Duration: The talks between the two presidents lasted approximately one hour and 40 minutes.

• First Direct Meeting: This meeting is the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Xi in six years, and the first in Trump's second term.

• Meeting Location: The meeting took place on the sidelines of the US President's Asian tour (which included Japan and South Korea, coinciding with the APEC meetings in Gyeongju). Unlike his previous meetings with Japanese and South Korean leaders held at luxurious venues, Trump opted for a simple and functional meeting, away from official protocol, meeting the Chinese President at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea.

• Immediate Departure: Trump headed directly to the presidential plane after the meeting concluded.