Washington, Nov 09 (V7N)- US President Donald Trump has said Ukraine will emerge with a different territorial shape after the war with Russia, expressing confidence that the conflict could end soon through a negotiated agreement.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes, broadcast on Sunday (November 8).
“I believe that we're very close to making a deal,” Trump said, adding that Ukraine would ultimately “end up with a little bit different shape”.
He did not elaborate on what territorial changes he envisaged or specify the terms of a possible agreement.
Trump blamed the strained relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for complicating peace negotiations.
“I believe that that war is going to end, and it's going to end soon. And the only reason it's going to end is because of me,” he said.
Asked which leader he trusted more, Putin or Zelenskyy, Trump declined to choose, saying he got along with both.
He also rejected the suggestion that Putin was deliberately prolonging negotiations.
“There has been nobody that's been tougher on Russia than me,” Trump said, pointing to his administration's sanctions and trade measures against Moscow.
The remarks came ahead of planned trilateral negotiations involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11. The talks are expected to address efforts to end the war, although significant differences remain over territorial issues and Ukraine's post-war security arrangements.
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