Trump Says Ukraine Will End Up 'a Little Bit Different Shape' in Peace Deal

President Donald Trump has said he believes a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war is close — and that Ukraine will come out of any settlement with redrawn borders. Speaking to CBS 60 Minutes in an interview aired on Sunday, November 8, 2026, Trump predicted Kyiv would end up “a little bit different shape” once a peace agreement is reached.

Key Points

• Trump told 60 Minutes he believes a Ukraine peace deal is “very close” and will happen soon, saying the war will end “because of me.”
• He said Ukraine will end up “a little bit different shape” — his clearest suggestion yet that a settlement involves changed borders.
• He named “the hatred between Zelenskyy and Putin” as the biggest obstacle to peace.
• US envoy Steve Witkoff said the delegations will meet in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, the first such talks since February.
• France confirmed Europeans will join, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot saying France will take part on both days.

What Happened

Trump spoke to CBS correspondent Ross Douthat in an interview broadcast on Sunday, November 8. Asked about ending the war, he was blunt. “I believe we’re very close to making a deal,” he said. “I believe 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.”

Asked what Ukraine would look like after a settlement, Trump did not hedge. “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 said. It was his most direct statement yet that a peace deal would leave Ukraine’s map altered, though he gave no detail on which territory would change hands or what Kyiv would get in return.

Asked what stood in the way, Trump pointed to the personal animosity between the two leaders. “The hatred between Zelenskyy and Putin,” he said, naming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He repeated his claim that the war would never have begun if he had been in the White House. The interview aired four days after Trump met Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House on November 4, after which he said a grand deal on European security was in the works.

Background: A War Nearing Five Years Heads to Abu Dhabi

The war is approaching its fifth year since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. Abu Dhabi will be the first time Ukrainian and Russian delegations have sat down together with American mediation since February, after months of shuttle diplomacy that produced ceasefires in some areas but no comprehensive settlement.

Witkoff said Washington will bring the two sides together on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 10–11, to discuss ending the war, post-war security pacts and de-escalation. The agenda goes beyond a simple ceasefire: it covers the security arrangements that would follow a deal, which Kyiv and its European allies call the key to any lasting peace.

The groundwork was laid in public over the past week. First Lady Melania Trump brought Russian and Ukrainian representatives together at the White House on November 5 for a humanitarian meeting on the Oleshky ceasefire. Russia has since named its Abu Dhabi delegation, including Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky and GRU chief Igor Kostyukov. Europe will have a seat at the table: Barrot confirmed France will take part on November 10–11.

What a Trump Ukraine Peace Deal Could Mean for Ukraine’s Borders

Trump’s “different shape” remark will be parsed most closely in Kyiv, Moscow and European capitals. Ukraine’s borders have been the hardest question in every round of talks: Russia controls significant territory in the east and south, Moscow has demanded recognition of its claims, and Kyiv has insisted on its territorial integrity. He did not say which land would change hands, whether any swap is envisaged, or what guarantees Ukraine would get.

That silence leaves the central question open. A deal trading territory for security guarantees would look very different from one freezing the current front line, and the two sides have never publicly agreed which version is on the table. Trump’s mention of a grand deal on European security suggests the White House sees the Ukraine settlement as part of a wider arrangement with Moscow — raising the stakes for Kyiv, which fears a deal struck over its head.

Reactions and Quotes

The main reactions so far have come from the negotiators themselves: Witkoff’s announcement set the timetable, and Barrot’s confirmation answered a question that had hung over the talks. Neither side has yet publicly responded to Trump’s “different shape” remark. The key quotes from the interview were:

• “I believe we’re very close to making a deal.”
• “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.”
• “I believe 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.”
• On the biggest obstacle: “the hatred between Zelenskyy and Putin.”

Trump has predicted a deal repeatedly, but with delegations named and a date set, this prediction will be tested within days.

Why It Matters

If Trump is right, Abu Dhabi could be the moment the longest war in Europe since the Second World War begins to end. A settlement would reshape the continent’s security map, decide the fate of territory Russia has seized, and set the terms for Ukraine’s rebuilding. For the United States, it would be the centrepiece of Trump’s claim that his personal diplomacy can close wars that outlasted his predecessors.

If he is wrong, the cost is also clear. A failed round in Abu Dhabi, so soon after a presidential prediction of success, would deepen allies’ doubts after earlier deadlines passed. The “different shape” remark itself carries a risk: if Kyiv reads it as Washington preparing to press it into territorial concessions, it could harden Ukraine’s position before the delegations sit down.

What Happens Next

All eyes now turn to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 10–11, when the Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet with American mediation to discuss ending the war, post-war security pacts and de-escalation. Watch for whether the delegations meet face to face, whether any joint statement emerges, and whether the talks run beyond the scheduled two days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Trump say about Ukraine’s shape?
He said Ukraine will end up “a little bit different shape” after a peace deal, his clearest suggestion that a settlement involves changed borders.

When are the Abu Dhabi talks?
Tuesday and Wednesday, November 10–11, 2026, with Ukrainian and Russian delegations meeting under American mediation, plus European participants.

Who is leading the US effort?
US envoy Steve Witkoff, who announced the meeting.

Will Europe take part in the talks?
Yes. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed on Sunday that Europeans will join, France included, on November 10–11.

What did Trump name as the biggest obstacle to peace?
“The hatred between Zelenskyy and Putin,” he told CBS 60 Minutes, adding that the war would never have started if he had been president.