Trump Says Ukraine Will Emerge Reshaped as Abu Dhabi Peace Talks Near

President Donald Trump said in a 60 Minutes interview that Ukraine will end up with "a little bit different shape" once the war with Russia ends. He added that he believes a deal is very close, according to The Kyiv Independent and Anadolu Agency. He gave no details on what that could mean for territory.

The remarks came a day before U.S.-mediated talks involving the U.S., Ukraine and Russia are due to open in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11.

What Trump said about Ukraine's future

Trump told the program that he expects the war to end soon and credited himself for it. Anadolu reported that he offered no specifics on possible territorial concessions. The Independent described his comment as a suggestion that a settlement could involve Ukraine losing some territory. That reading is the outlet's interpretation, not something Trump spelled out.

Asked about the biggest obstacle to peace, Trump pointed to animosity between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. When the interviewer noted that Zelensky's feelings were understandable given Russia's invasion, Trump said Russia was shown great disrespect at the two leaders' first meeting. He declined to say whom he trusts more. "I'd rather not say, but I get along with both," he said. He also said he does not believe Putin is stringing him along.

Sanctions, weapons and Starlink

Trump defended his record on Russia, saying nobody has been tougher on Moscow and pointing to trade measures and sanctions. The interviewer cited his recent waiver of sanctions on Russian oil exports. Trump replied that he had not lifted diesel sanctions. He said he had made it possible for Russia to supply diesel to the world and that this was no big favor.

He criticized the military aid provided under former President Joe Biden, saying the U.S. got nothing in return. He praised his own approach, in which European countries buy U.S. weapons and pass them to Ukraine. Anadolu quoted him as saying Europe pays full price.

Trump was also asked about the speed cap that hit Ukraine's Starlink military systems for much of October. According to The Kyiv Independent, a limit on the military version, Starshield, was imposed without warning in mid-October. It disrupted Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian jet-powered drones. Service was later restored, and no one has taken responsibility. Trump said he did not know who turned it down and that it had not been proven to him that it was. He said that when he heard about it, service went back up. Asked whether Elon Musk ordered the limit, he again said he did not know, but that Musk ultimately turned it back up.

What's at stake in the Abu Dhabi talks

The outcome of the negotiations will help determine what Ukraine looks like after the war and what guarantees it receives. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Sunday that talks on "security infrastructure" for Ukraine and Europe have made some progress, according to The Independent. He said the need for security guarantees has come up repeatedly in Washington's contacts with Moscow and Kyiv. He added that he believes this is what Trump was alluding to, since advances have been made on what the post-conflict arrangement could look like.

Fighting continues alongside the diplomacy. The Independent reported that Russia said on Sunday it had struck three cargo vessels and two electricity substations that it claimed were supporting Ukraine.

What happens next

The Independent reported that American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will represent Washington in Abu Dhabi. Witkoff said the U.S. would bring Ukrainian and Russian delegations together to discuss ending the war and post-war security agreements. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Europeans will also take part. Rubio was traveling to Paris for talks with G7 foreign ministers.

The Kyiv Independent noted that Trump's comments followed a heavy defeat for his Republican Party in the U.S. midterm elections.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by The Kyiv Independent, Anadolu Ajansı, The Independent