US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China is attracting international attention amid concerns that discussions involving Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin could influence the global balance of power.
The visit has also drawn comparisons to the 1945 Yalta Conference, where the leaders of the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union discussed the post-Second World War settlement and the territorial arrangements that shaped Europe.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed concern that the planned meeting in Shenzhen could lead to a similar arrangement in which major world powers seek to redefine their respective spheres of influence.
Zelensky warned against what he described as a possible Yalta-style redistribution of global influence, suggesting that decisions taken by powerful countries without adequate consideration of smaller nations could have serious consequences for international security.
The Yalta Conference brought together then-US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Their discussions helped shape the post-war international order and influenced the political and territorial divisions that followed the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Zelensky’s concerns reflect wider apprehension about the possibility of major powers reaching understandings that could affect the sovereignty and security interests of other countries.
The Trump administration has increasingly emphasised its intention to strengthen American influence, particularly across the Western Hemisphere.
One of the most significant developments in that policy was the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January, an action that highlighted Washington’s willingness to pursue an assertive approach to its regional interests.
However, analysts and international observers have questioned whether dividing global influence among major powers would provide lasting security or instead create new tensions among countries seeking to protect their independence.
Trump’s China visit is expected to include high-level discussions with Xi, marking their fourth meeting since the American president returned to the White House last year.
According to US officials, Trump is scheduled to hold a bilateral working lunch and a formal meeting with the Chinese president on Thursday.
However, the American president is not expected to hold a separate one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The presence of both Xi and Putin in Shenzhen has added another dimension to the visit, particularly given the growing strategic relationship between China and Russia and their respective positions on major international issues.
The discussions are expected to take place against the background of increasing competition between Washington and Beijing over trade, technology, security and international influence.
Meanwhile, US officials have indicated that certain controversial issues involving the technology sector are unlikely to feature in Trump’s discussions with Xi.
In particular, the reported controversy surrounding Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang is not expected to affect the president’s engagements in China.
A senior US official said the situation involving Nvidia would not have any significant bearing on the purpose of Trump’s visit.
The controversy, which reportedly involved allegations concerning an affair with an alleged Chinese spy, has attracted attention because of its potential implications for technology security and the relationship between the United States and China.
However, Washington has indicated that it does not intend to discuss export controls on sensitive semiconductor technology during the visit.
These restrictions have been a major source of tension between the two economic powers, with the United States seeking to limit China’s access to certain advanced technologies considered critical to national security.
A second senior US official stressed that export controls were matters of national security determined by the American administration and would not be subject to negotiations with Beijing.
The official made it clear that the issue was not expected to feature in discussions with Chinese representatives.
The position suggests that although Washington remains interested in maintaining dialogue with Beijing, it is not prepared to compromise on certain technology restrictions that it considers essential to protecting American strategic interests.
Trump’s delegation will also include some of the most prominent figures in the American business and technology sectors.
Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk is expected to accompany the president on the trip, although US officials have clarified that he will not participate in the meetings involving Trump, Xi and Putin.
Musk’s presence is nevertheless likely to attract attention, given his extensive business interests and the importance of the Chinese market to several major technology and manufacturing companies.
China remains an important market for American businesses, particularly in the automotive, technology and manufacturing industries.
The visit is part of a broader diplomatic programme that will first take Trump to the Philippines, where he is scheduled to participate in a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The US president is expected to leave Washington on Monday and arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday before travelling to Shenzhen for his engagements with Chinese leaders.
His participation in the ASEAN summit also provides an opportunity for Washington to strengthen its diplomatic and economic relationships with Southeast Asian countries at a time of increasing strategic competition in the region.
As global tensions continue to shape relations among major powers, Trump’s engagement with Xi and the broader diplomatic developments surrounding the visit are expected to receive close international attention.
For countries such as Ukraine, which remain concerned about the possibility of major powers making decisions that affect their national interests, the outcome of such high-level engagements could carry significant implications for the future of international relations.
