Skip to content

WorldDeveloping

Putin proposes three-way summit with Trump and Xi on Ukraine, Wall Street Journal reports

By

Coverage spectrum

Covered by 13 outlets across the spectrum.

20 articles in total, 4 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

The Wall Street Journal reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a three-way summit with President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The report says Putin raised the idea in an October 9 phone call with Trump and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not been invited. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said such a summit would encourage Putin to prolong the war. The proposal rests on the Journal’s reporting, and the reports analyzed here do not include an on-the-record confirmation of it from the Kremlin.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Putin proposed a three-way summit with Trump and Xi next month on ending the war in Ukraine, according to the Wall Street Journal.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left1Left3Center4Right2Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    Bloomberg, The Guardian, CBS News
    Center
    CNBC, The Hill, France 24, Deutsche Welle
    Right
    The Washington Times, New York Post
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Daily Wire

  2. The proposed summit would not include Zelensky or Kyiv, according to the Wall Street Journal report.

    Reported byFar Left1Left1Center1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Left
    CBS News
    Center
    Deutsche Welle
    Far Right
    Just the News

  3. The Journal reports Putin raised the idea during an October 9 phone call with Trump.

    Reported byFar Left1Center1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast
    Center
    The Hill
    Far Right
    The Daily Wire

  4. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said a summit between Russia, China and the US would encourage Putin to prolong the war.

    One outletFrance 24· Center

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • Putin proposed a summit with Trump and Xi that excludes Zelensky in order to end the war on Russian terms.

    The Daily Beast calls it a plot to end the war on the Kremlin's terms. Ukraine's foreign minister says the summit would prolong the war. The New York Post cites an expert who expects it to fail. The Hill and the Wall Street Journal attribute the proposal to a Russian intelligence officer and to people briefed on the matter.

How each side tells it

Compare views

All three sides report that Putin proposed a summit with Trump and Xi on Ukraine, citing a Wall Street Journal report. Left outlets frame it as a plot sidelining Kyiv, right outlets stress Trump's ties to Putin, and center outlets keep the claim attributed and add Kyiv's warning.

  • the left

    3 outlets · 2 opinion

    Left headlines attribute the proposal to the Wall Street Journal, but the Daily Beast's secret plot and betrayal framing and the Guardian's editorial warning that Ukraine's future is not theirs to bargain away go further.

    Putin proposes summit with Trump and China's Xi to discuss Ukraine, Wall Street Journal reports
    CBS NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    5 outlets

    Center headlines mostly attribute the claim with reportedly or the Wall Street Journal and focus on the war's stakes, while France 24 leads with Kyiv's warning that the summit would prolong the war.

    Putin reportedly suggests summit with Trump and Xi to decide fate of Ukraine
    CNBCCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    5 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right headlines lead with the guest list and Trump's ties to Putin, while the New York Post adds a Yalta comparison and a forecast of failure.

    Putin Loaded verb“Pitches”Pitches suggests a sales effort, while the reports describe a proposal made during a phone call.More neutral: proposesDisagree with this highlight? Guest List For Ukraine Peace Talks. Here’s Who’s On It.
    The Daily WireFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left11

    lure Donald TrumpYalta-stylebombshellside with Moscow

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right3

    Pitchesdictatorto establish a new world order

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    PitchesMore neutral: proposes

    Pitches suggests a sales effort, while the reports describe a proposal made during a phone call.

    Putin Pitches Guest List For Ukraine Peace Talks.

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    lure Donald TrumpMore neutral: invite Donald Trump to

    Lure implies Trump is being manipulated, a motive the report describes only through unnamed sources.

    Vladimir Putin is hoping to lure Donald Trump to a Yalta-style superpower summit that would allow him to end the war in…

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    Yalta-styleMore neutral: three-way

    The comparison to the 1945 Yalta conference carries a judgement about the proposed meeting that the report does not state.

    Vladimir Putin is hoping to lure Donald Trump to a Yalta-style superpower summit that would allow him to end the war in Ukraine on the Kremlin’s…

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    bombshellMore neutral: report

    The word adds drama to a report whose content is described in plain terms elsewhere.

    …would allow him to end the war in Ukraine on the Kremlin’s terms, according to a bombshell report.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

Show 10 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded verb

    side with MoscowMore neutral: engage Moscow

    It describes Trump’s stance as taking Moscow’s side, a judgement the excerpt does not support with a stated position.

    The Russian president has been buoyed by Trump’s willingness to side with Moscow.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    Secret PlotMore neutral: proposed summit

    Calling it a secret plot asserts hidden intent that the report does not establish.

    Putin’s Secret Plot to Lure Trump Into Ultimate Betrayal Revealed

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    Lure TrumpMore neutral: invite Trump to

    Lure implies Trump is being manipulated, a motive the report describes only through unnamed sources.

    Putin’s Secret Plot to Lure Trump Into Ultimate Betrayal Revealed

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    Ultimate BetrayalMore neutral: a Ukraine deal without Kyiv

    The phrase asserts a betrayal as an outcome, which the report does not establish.

    Putin’s Secret Plot to Lure Trump Into Ultimate Betrayal Revealed

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    dictatorMore neutral: Russian President Vladimir Putin

    Calling Putin a dictator in the outlet’s own voice pre-judges his rule rather than stating his position.

    …up the spoils." And yet, on Monday, we see a report claiming that Russia's president/dictator Vladimir Putin is proposing a meeting between President Trump and China's President…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    chummyMore neutral: friendly

    The adjective characterizes the Trump-Putin calls with a judgement of their tone rather than describing them.

    The history of chummy phone calls, high-profile meetings and attempts to bring Russia in from the cold…

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    thuggish rulerMore neutral: Russian leader Vladimir Putin

    The outlet’s own editorial voice applies a judgement of character to Putin rather than describing his position.

    …and attempts to bring Russia in from the cold certainly suggests that Moscow’s thuggish ruler has a hold on this American president.

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

  • Sensational language

    to establish a new world orderMore neutral: to shape the postwar order

    The phrase asserts a sweeping goal in the outlet's own voice, without attribution to the Journal or the expert.

    …an end to the war in Ukraine after months of battlefield loses and to establish a new world order — a move that's likely to fail, an expert told The Post.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    idealized view of the worldMore neutral: Trump's view of great-power diplomacy

    The phrase characterizes Trump's outlook as idealized, a judgement about his motives that the reporting does not establish.

    Clearly the idea appeals to Trump’s idealized view of the world: great powers carving their spheres, calling the shots, collecting the…

    Used bySlate (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    Laced With PoisonMore neutral: Putin proposes a three-way summit; critics say its terms would disadvantage Ukraine

    The metaphor presents the proposal as harmful before its terms are known, which is an assessment rather than a reported fact.

    Putin Is Throwing Trump a Bone—but It’s Laced With Poison

    Used bySlate (Far Left)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

3 outlets · 2 opinion

Leads with

  • Wall Street Journal attribution
  • Putin's aim to end the war on Kremlin terms
  • Ukraine excluded from talks
  • Trump's dealings with Putin

Leaves out

  • Kyiv's warning that the summit would prolong the war

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 5 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • CBS NewsLeft

    Putin proposes summit with Trump and China's Xi to discuss Ukraine, Wall Street Journal reports

    Russian President Vladimir Putin is proposing a summit with President Trump and China's Xi Jinping to discuss a potential end to the war in Ukraine, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not been invited. …

    Read at CBS News (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    Putin’s Sensational language“Secret Plot”Calling it a secret plot asserts hidden intent that the report does not establish.More neutral: proposed summitDisagree with this highlight? to Loaded verb“Lure Trump”Lure implies Trump is being manipulated, a motive the report describes only through unnamed sources.More neutral: invite Trump toDisagree with this highlight? Into Sensational language“Ultimate Betrayal”The phrase asserts a betrayal as an outcome, which the report does not establish.More neutral: a Ukraine deal without KyivDisagree with this highlight? Revealed

    Vladimir Putin is hoping to Loaded verb“lure Donald Trump”Lure implies Trump is being manipulated, a motive the report describes only through unnamed sources.More neutral: invite Donald Trump toDisagree with this highlight? to a Loaded modifier“Yalta-style”The comparison to the 1945 Yalta conference carries a judgement about the proposed meeting that the report does not state.More neutral: three-wayDisagree with this highlight? superpower summit that would allow him to end the war in Ukraine on the Kremlin’s terms, according to a Sensational language“bombshell”The word adds drama to a report whose content is described in plain terms elsewhere.More neutral: reportDisagree with this highlight? report. …

    Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)
  • BloombergLeft

    Putin Reportedly Floats Ukraine Summit With Trump and Xi

    Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed a summit next month with Trump and Xi Jinping to discuss Ukraine, a move that could deepen tensions between Ukraine and the US and raise concerns among European leaders. (Source: Bloomberg)

    Read at Bloomberg (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from Bloomberg
  • SlateFar LeftOpinion

    Putin Is Throwing Trump a Bone—but It’s Sensational language“Laced With Poison”The metaphor presents the proposal as harmful before its terms are known, which is an assessment rather than a reported fact.More neutral: Putin proposes a three-way summit; critics say its terms would disadvantage UkraineDisagree with this highlight?

    The Russian leader's proposed peace summit won't go well for Trump, or for Ukraine.

    Read at Slate (opens in a new tab)
  • The GuardianLeftOpinion

    The Guardian view on Trump and Putin: Ukraine’s future is not theirs to bargain away | Editorial

    Russia wants America and China to decide Ukraine’s future without Kyiv. Europe must challenge this dangerous return to diplomacy of the strong for the strong Does Vladimir Putin know exactly how to play Donald Trump? …

    Read at The Guardian (opens in a new tab)

From the center

5 outlets

Leads with

  • Proposal framed as reported, not confirmed
  • Stakes for the war in Ukraine
  • Kyiv's opposition

Leaves out

  • Expert forecast that the summit is likely to fail

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 5 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • Deutsche WelleCenter

    Trump, Putin and Xi at one table, without Ukraine. What Moscow wants from the proposal and why Beijing might agree.

    Moscow is pushing for a summit with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, without Kyiv or the EU. What does Russia hope to gain, and why might China be willing to take part?

    Read at Deutsche Welle (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from Deutsche Welle
  • SemaforCenter

    Putin floats US-China-Russia summit to end Ukraine war, WSJ reports

    US President Donald Trump is already facing blowback from Republicans for his overtures to Putin, including waiving Russia sanctions.

    Read at Semafor (opens in a new tab)
  • France 24Center

    Russia-China-US summit would prolong the war, Kyiv says

    Ukrainian ⁠Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Monday that a summit between Russia, China and the US would ⁠encourage President Vladimir Putin to prolong the war. …

    Read at France 24 (opens in a new tab)
  • The HillCenter

    Putin proposing summit with Trump, Xi in push to end Ukraine war: WSJ

    Russian President Vladimir Putin is proposing a three-way meeting with President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss the war in Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal Reported. Putin proposed the summit during a phone call with Trump on Oct. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
  • CNBCCenter

    Putin reportedly suggests summit with Trump and Xi to decide fate of Ukraine

    The report comes amid mounting tensions between Ukraine and the United States, its largest military backer.

    Read at CNBC (opens in a new tab)

From the right

5 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • Who is on the guest list
  • Trump's relationship with Putin
  • Yalta comparison and new world order
  • Putin's battlefield setbacks

Leaves out

  • Kyiv's warning that the summit would prolong the war

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 6 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    Bloomberg, Oct 18, 7:28 PM EDT

  • Center

    4 hr 28 min later

    Its first report, Oct 18, 11:56 PM EDT

  • Right

    9 hr 19 min later

    Its first report, Oct 19, 4:46 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. BloombergLeftOct 18, 7:28 PM EDT
  2. CNBCCenterOct 18, 11:56 PM EDT
  3. The Daily WireFar RightOct 19, 4:46 AM EDT
  4. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 19, 5:13 AM EDT
  5. The HillCenterOct 19, 9:54 AM EDT
  6. The Washington TimesRightOct 19, 1:32 PM EDT
  7. CBS NewsLeftOct 19, 1:58 PM EDT
  8. New York PostRightOct 19, 3:04 PM EDT
  9. France 24CenterOct 19, 3:21 PM EDT
  10. SemaforCenterOct 19, 6:25 PM EDT
  11. Washington ExaminerRightOct 20, 3:23 PM EDT
  12. Deutsche WelleCenterOct 21, 3:32 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

Read next

Help someone else find the truth beneath the surface

Most people see one side of a story. Share this one, so they can see how every side is telling it and decide for themselves.

Email it

Seen a mistake? Tell us what is wrong with this page