Trump says Ukraine will have a 'little bit different shape' after war
US President Donald Trump said Ukraine would likely emerge from the war with Russia in a "little bit different shape," without specifying what changes he expected to the country's territory or borders.
In an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes, Trump was asked whether he expected the war to end with Ukraine remaining free and independent.
"I think we're going to have it done, and I think it's going to happen, and they're going to end up with a little bit different shape [for] Ukraine," he replied.
Trump did not elaborate on what he meant by Ukraine's future "shape" or whether he was referring to territorial concessions.
The US president described personal hostility between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin as the main obstacle to reaching a peace agreement.
Asked whether he trusted Zelenskyy or Putin more, Trump declined to choose.
"I'd rather not answer that, but I get along very well with both," he said.
When the interviewer pointed out that Zelenskyy's hostility toward Putin was understandable given Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Trump acknowledged the point but suggested Russia had been treated with disrespect during an earlier meeting between the two sides.
Trump also dismissed the suggestion that Putin was deliberately prolonging negotiations or manipulating him.
"Oh, I don't think so," he said when asked whether the Russian leader was "leading him by the nose."
The president defended his approach to Moscow, saying no one had been tougher on Russia than he had, citing US sanctions and trade measures.
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