Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Nov 9: US President Donald Trump has said he believes an agreement to end the Ukraine war is close, while indicating that Ukraine could emerge with altered borders. However, he declined to say whether he trusted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy more than Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In an interview with Ross Douthat for CBS News' '60 Minutes', Trump blamed the personal hostility between Putin and Zelenskyy for obstructing efforts to reach a peace agreement. However, he did not disclose any specific terms of a possible settlement.

“I believe we're very close to making a deal,” Trump said.

When asked which of the two leaders he trusted more, Trump replied, “Well, I'd rather not say, but I get along with both.”

He also predicted that the war would end soon.

During the interview, Douthat questioned Trump's suggestion that mutual hostility between the two leaders was the main obstacle to peace, pointing out that Zelenskyy's anger was more understandable as Ukraine was the country that had been invaded.

Trump acknowledged the point but subsequently claimed that Russia had been shown disrespect during an earlier meeting. He also reiterated his assertion that the war would never have started had he been the US President at the time.

Asked whether Putin was merely stringing him along during peace negotiations, Trump replied, “Oh, I don't think so.”

Douthat also challenged Trump's repeated predictions of an imminent peace agreement and questioned whether his administration had eased pressure on Moscow. He referred to a recent relaxation of restrictions involving Russian diesel supplies.

Trump disputed the characterisation, saying he had enabled Russia to supply diesel to the world. He argued that the move addressed an existing need rather than providing a major concession to Moscow.

The interview also highlighted differences over the nature of American military assistance to Ukraine. Douthat pointed out that European countries were now supplying weapons, but Trump maintained that the weapons were American-made and that European nations were paying for them.

“But Europe is paying for them,” Trump said.

He contrasted the arrangement with military assistance extended under former US President Joe Biden, arguing that European governments had the financial resources to pay for the weapons but had not been asked to do so earlier.

Trump praised Ukrainian forces for their courage in using the weapons supplied to them. However, when Douthat suggested that American assistance had helped secure Ukraine's independence, Trump said the final outcome remained uncertain.

Asked whether he expected Ukraine to emerge as a free and independent country, Trump 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 did not specify which territories Ukraine might lose or what security arrangements could be included in a potential peace agreement.

Douthat also questioned Trump about reports of a slowdown in Starlink satellite services used by Ukrainian forces. Trump said he did not know who was responsible and later questioned whether any slowdown had actually been established.

“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,” Trump said, referring to Elon Musk.

The interview transcript did not include any response from Musk, Russia or Ukraine on the issue.