Recent diplomatic announcements have positioned the November 18-19 APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, as the venue for the next Trump-Putin encounter, with both leaders and Chinese President Xi Jinping confirming ongoing coordination for bilateral or trilateral talks on Ukraine, denuclearization, and related issues. U.S. envoys met Putin in Moscow on November 12 following exploratory talks in Abu Dhabi, reinforcing momentum toward the China-hosted event as the immediate priority. This timeline and explicit statements from the Kremlin, White House, and Beijing have produced strong trader consensus around China. A last-minute cancellation due to unresolved agenda disputes or shifting priorities could open limited space for alternatives before year-end, though no comparable scheduled forum currently exists elsewhere.