Trump open to summit with Xi and Putin — to discuss denuclearization

President Trump wants to hold a trilateral summit with Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin in China next month to discuss "denuclearization" — but not necessarily Ukraine.

Why it matters: Such a summit between the leaders of the U.S., China and Russia would be unprecedented.

Trump has been talking for two years about his aspiration to reach a deal with Russia and China to reduce the number of nuclear weapons.

But so far Putin and Xi haven't shown much openness to the idea.

Driving the news: Trump is expected to travel to China in mid-November to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting in the city of Shenzhen.

The Kremlin has been floating the idea of holding such a meeting since July.

Putin raised the issue in two phone calls with Trump, including one last week.

The Chinese government hasn't expressed willingness to hold such a summit.

What he's saying: When asked on Monday whether such a summit could discuss ending the war in Ukraine, Trump said he wants to hold such a trilateral meeting, but in order to discuss other issues.

"I would do it, not so much for Ukraine, we would have it to talk about denuclearization," he said.