US President Donald Trump said on 9 November 2026 that he believed a deal to end the Ukraine war was imminent, while suggesting that Ukraine would emerge from any settlement with changed borders — without specifying which territories would be affected or what security guarantees would follow. The remarks came during an interview with journalist Ross Douthat on CBS News' 60 Minutes.

Trump's Assessment of the Peace Process

'I believe we're very close to making a deal,' Trump said during the interview. When pressed on what a post-war Ukraine would look like, he said: 'I think we're gonna have it done, and I think it's gonna happen and they're gonna end up with a little bit different shape Ukraine.' He offered no specific terms for a settlement, nor any timeline.

Trump attributed the stalling of peace talks to mutual hostility between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying the personal animosity between the two leaders was an obstacle. He declined to say which leader he trusted more, stating: 'Well, I'd rather not say, but I get along with both.'

Pushback on Neutrality and Obstacle Framing

Interviewer Douthat challenged Trump's framing, asking whether Zelenskyy's anger was more understandable given that Ukraine had been invaded — not Russia. Trump acknowledged the point but then pivoted, saying Russia had been shown disrespect at an earlier meeting. He also repeated his long-standing claim that the war would never have begun had he been president at the time.

When asked whether Putin was stringing him along on peace prospects, Trump said: 'Oh, I don't think so.' Douthat also cited a recent easing of restrictions related to Russian diesel exports as evidence that Washington had reduced pressure on Moscow. Trump disputed the characterisation, arguing the move addressed a global supply need rather than granting Russia a significant concession.

Who Is Paying for Ukraine's Weapons

The interview also surfaced a disagreement over the framing of military assistance to Ukraine. Douthat noted that Europe was now supplying weapons; Trump countered that the weapons remained American-made, with European governments paying for them. 'But Europe is paying for them,' Trump said, drawing a contrast with military aid provided under former President Joe Biden, arguing that European allies had the financial capacity to contribute earlier but had not been asked.

Trump praised the courage of Ukrainian forces in using the supplied weapons, but when Douthat suggested that US assistance had secured Ukrainian independence, Trump said the outcome was still unresolved.

Starlink Slowdown and Elon Musk

Douthat raised a reported slowdown in Starlink satellite service used by Ukrainian forces. Trump said he did not know who was responsible and later questioned whether a slowdown had actually been confirmed. He subsequently said: 'Well, I know this, I can't tell you who turned it down. I can tell you ultimately he turned it back up and so they have it' — referring to Elon Musk. No response from Musk, Russia, or Ukraine was included in the available transcript.

What Remains Unresolved

Trump's comments leave critical questions open: which territories a 'differently shaped' Ukraine would include or exclude, what security architecture would underpin any agreement, and whether Kyiv or its European partners have been consulted on the outline of a deal. This comes amid ongoing battlefield pressure on Ukrainian positions and continued Western debate over the pace and scale of military support. The coming weeks will be closely watched for any formal diplomatic movement.