Trump says Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape" after the war and the U.S. "got nothing" for its weapons; the Kremlin agrees, and Zelenskyy rejects ceding land
Trump told 60 Minutes on November 8, 2026, that a deal would leave Ukraine with "a little bit different shape" and that the U.S. "got nothing" for its weapons. The Kremlin agreed. Zelenskyy and James Stavridis objected to trading land for peace.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The interview aired two days before Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Abu Dhabi for talks mediated by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, their first face-to-face talks in nine months. Russia has demanded that Ukraine give up the parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that Russian forces have not captured, and Kyiv has refused.
In the same answer, Trump repeated his figure that President Joe Biden gave Ukraine $350 billion in cash and weapons, and said that under his administration Europe buys the weapons at full price. FactCheck.org has called the $350 billion figure false, citing a special inspector general's finding that nearly $183 billion, not counting a $20 billion loan, was made available for aid to Ukraine during the Biden administration.
People in this case
Donald TrumpDirectly involved
Volodymyr ZelenskyyCommented
David E. SangerCommented
James StavridisCommented
Timeline
2 timeline entries on this page. Dates: November 8, 2026 to November 10, 2026
November 2026
Trump tells 60 Minutes that Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape"
Incident
In an interview with Ross Douthat broadcast on CBS's 60 Minutes, Trump says the United States supplied Ukraine with weapons and "got nothing for it." Asked whether he expects a free and independent Ukraine, he says a deal will happen and Ukraine will end up with "a little bit different shape." He also says "there was great disrespect shown to Russia" when Putin and Zelenskyy first met.
[01]CBS News
CBS News transcript of the 60 Minutes interview broadcast November 8, 2026. In the Ukraine exchange, Trump talks about his relations with Putin and Zelenskyy, the weapons the United States supplied, the coming talks and the shape Ukraine will have after a deal, then answers questions about Starlink.
Read the full transcript of Ross Douthat's interview with President Trump · CBS NewsTranscript, exchange on the war in Ukraine, from "You came into office promising to make peace in Ukraine"[02]Ukraine will likely 'end up with a little bit different shape' after war, Trump tells 60 Minutes
Kyiv Independent report on the Ukraine section of Trump's 60 Minutes interview, quoting his remarks on the coming Abu Dhabi talks, the weapons sent to Ukraine, Putin and Zelenskyy, and Starlink.
[03]CNN
CNN's rush transcript of the 7:30 a.m. ET half hour of CNN News Central on November 9, 2026. Kate Bolduan plays the 60 Minutes clip of Trump on the weapons sent to Ukraine and Ukraine's shape after the war, then asks retired Adm. James Stavridis what he hears in it.
CNN News Central transcript, November 9, 2026: James Stavridis on Trump's Ukraine remarks · CNNCNN News Central, 7:30 a.m. ET half hour; the Ukraine clip and Stavridis interview at about 7:35 a.m. ETRussian and Ukrainian delegations hold U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators meet in Abu Dhabi for talks mediated by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, after a nine-month pause in face-to-face talks. The Telegraph reports that Ukraine rejected a U.S. proposal on the Donbas front line, and quotes a Ukrainian source saying the delegation never discussed giving up any territory Russia occupies. On November 11, Zelenskyy says the talks produced an arrangement to prepare a new prisoner exchange and a discussion of security guarantees.
[04]Ukraine rejects Trump's new plan for shared territory
Telegraph report on the first day of the Abu Dhabi talks, carried in full by Yahoo News. It reports, citing a Ukrainian source, that Ukraine rejected a U.S. proposal on the Donbas front line.
Ukraine rejects Trump's new plan for shared territoryFull article (The Telegraph, carried by Yahoo News)[05]Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Post on Zelenskyy's official X account summarizing his negotiating team's report on the Abu Dhabi meetings with the American and Russian delegations.
Zelenskyy's X post on his negotiators' report from the Abu Dhabi talks · Volodymyr ZelenskyyX post of Nov. 11, 2026, 13:14 UTC, full text
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
A deal to end the war in Ukraine is close, and Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape" once it is done.
What is disputed
Trump said this on 60 Minutes when Ross Douthat asked whether he expected the war to end with a free and independent Ukraine. He did not say which territory he meant. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine is already a different country in terms of geography. Retired Adm. James Stavridis said the remark probably meant Russia keeping the roughly 20 percent of Ukraine it holds in a land-for-peace deal.
Sources (4)
- Read the full transcript of Ross Douthat's interview with President Trump · CBS NewsTranscript, exchange on the war in Ukraine, from "You came into office promising to make peace in Ukraine"
- CNN News Central transcript, November 9, 2026: James Stavridis on Trump's Ukraine remarks · CNNCNN News Central, 7:30 a.m. ET half hour; the Ukraine clip and Stavridis interview at about 7:35 a.m. ET
Disputed claim
Joe Biden gave Ukraine $350 billion worth of cash and weapons, and the United States got nothing for the weapons it supplied.
What is disputed
Trump made both statements in the same answer on 60 Minutes. Ross Douthat replied that the United States got Ukrainian independence for the aid, and Trump said it had not gotten that yet. FactCheck.org has called the $350 billion figure false: a February 2025 special inspector general report found that nearly $183 billion, not counting a $20 billion loan, was made available for aid to Ukraine during the Biden administration.
Sources (3)
- Read the full transcript of Ross Douthat's interview with President Trump · CBS NewsTranscript, exchange on the war in Ukraine, from "You came into office promising to make peace in Ukraine"
- CNN News Central transcript, November 9, 2026: James Stavridis on Trump's Ukraine remarks · CNNCNN News Central, 7:30 a.m. ET half hour; the Ukraine clip and Stavridis interview at about 7:35 a.m. ET
- Trump Links Biden's Ukraine Aid to Pentagon's Iran War Funding Request · FactCheck.orgSections on the $350 billion figure and on replacing weapons sent to Ukraine
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
6 responses. Newest first.
Volodymyr ZelenskyyPresident of Ukraine, posting an excerpt of his DR interview on his official X accountBefore this statement
In the same interview, published by DR on November 10, Zelenskyy was asked about Trump's statement that Ukraine could end up with a somewhat different shape after a peace deal. He said he did not really know what it meant and was not ready for that kind of surprise.
"Ceding Ukrainian land for peace is just abstract words. It’s not only about reality, even more about philosophy. Putin was talking about Donbas, but then he decided to occupy Kyiv, our capital. ... Nobody trusts Putin to stop if we leave Donbas. He will pause. Then he will come back in one year, two years, or five years."
CondemnedResponding to: A deal to end the war in Ukraine is close, and Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape" once it is done.
Full statement and sources
In an interview with DR, Zelenskyy says giving up land for peace would not stop Putin, who he says talked about Donbas and then tried to take Kyiv, and would pause and return in one to five years.
After the statement
The post goes on to describe Americans asking whether Ukraine could exchange Donbas for security guarantees similar to NATO, and ends by asking who would be to blame if Putin returned. In the DR article, he says that if it were up to him alone, he would not leave Donbas.
Zelenskyy's X post quoting his DR interview on ceding land for peace · Volodymyr ZelenskyyX post of Nov. 10, 2026, 10:51 UTC, full text (second of three posts from the DR interview)Zelenskyj: Rusland stopper ikke ved UkraineFull article, in Danish; the question on Trump's remark comes after the section on Trump's mediationWhy this label?
Zelenskyy rejects trading Ukrainian land for peace, the outcome Trump's remark was read as signaling, and says Putin would only pause. Asked about the remark itself in the same interview, he said he was not ready for that kind of surprise.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
David E. SangerCNN political and national security analyst, on CNN News CentralBefore this statement
Anchor Sara Sidner played the 60 Minutes exchange in which Trump declines to say whether he trusts Putin or Zelenskyy more and says there was great disrespect shown to Russia at their first meeting, then asked Sanger how he took it.
"the President has gone out of his way to excuse or diminish what Russia has done. You notice there that he didn't jump in and say, yes, Russia invaded Ukraine and violated their sovereignty. And there's something of an imbalance between somebody invading your country and you being rude to them when you meet them for the first time after they've invaded your country, right?"
CondemnedCase context: Trump says Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape" after the war and the U.S. "got nothing" for its weapons; the Kremlin agrees, and Zelenskyy rejects ceding land
Full statement and sources
On CNN, Sanger says Trump's remark about disrespect to Russia fits a pattern of excusing or diminishing what Russia has done, and notes that Trump did not say Russia invaded Ukraine.
After the statement
Sanger says he doubts that Trump's strategy of building a business relationship with Putin to draw him into an agreement will work before the end of the winter, and that the evidence suggests Putin wants to destroy Ukraine's capacity to heat and power itself.
CNN News Central transcript, November 9, 2026: David Sanger on Trump's remark about Russia · CNNCNN News Central, 9:30 a.m. ET half hour; the Ukraine clip and Sanger answer at about 9:35 a.m. ETWhy this label?
Sanger says Trump has gone out of his way to excuse Russia and faults him for weighing Ukrainian rudeness against an invasion, which criticizes the remark.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
James StavridisCNN senior military analyst and retired admiral, former NATO supreme allied commander, interviewed on CNN News CentralBefore this statement
Anchor Kate Bolduan played the 60 Minutes clip in which Trump says the United States got nothing for the weapons it supplied and that Ukraine will end up with a little bit different shape, then asked Stavridis what he heard in that phrase and what Zelenskyy might hear.
"Well, it sounds ominous. What it probably portends is the 20 percent, roughly, of Ukraine that Putin is currently in control of, the eastern slice that connects Crimea up to the Rodina, the motherland, as the Russians say, about 20 percent. It's kind of a trade land for peace deal, if you will. Certainly, Zelenskyy will hate that deal. I hate that deal. We all should hate that deal."
CondemnedResponding to: A deal to end the war in Ukraine is close, and Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape" once it is done.
Full statement and sources
On CNN, Stavridis says the remark that Ukraine will end up with a different shape sounds ominous and probably means Russia keeping the roughly 20 percent of Ukraine it controls in a land-for-peace deal, which he says he hates.
After the statement
Stavridis adds that Putin also dislikes that outcome because he wants all of Ukraine, calls the occupied land "a poison chalice" and predicts that it is probably the deal that will be reached. He says the most important part would be a fully independent Ukraine with a path to the European Union, reconstruction funds and security guarantees short of NATO membership.
CNN News Central transcript, November 9, 2026: James Stavridis on Trump's Ukraine remarks · CNNCNN News Central, 7:30 a.m. ET half hour; the Ukraine clip and Stavridis interview at about 7:35 a.m. ETWhy this label?
Stavridis reads the remark as pointing to a land-for-peace deal and says he hates that deal and that everyone should. He expects talks to end there, but he criticizes the outcome rather than defending it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Dmitry PeskovKremlin spokesman, at a news briefing in MoscowBefore this statement
Speaking at a news briefing in Moscow, Peskov was responding to Trump's remark that Ukraine would have a slightly different shape after negotiations to end the war.
"As for the shape of Ukraine, in terms of geography it is already a different country. The realities on the ground are obvious, and hardly anyone can deny them"
Defended or excusedResponding to: A deal to end the war in Ukraine is close, and Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape" once it is done.
Full statement and sources
Asked about Trump's remark that Ukraine will have a different shape after the war, Peskov says Ukraine is already a different country geographically and that the realities on the ground are obvious.
After the statement
Peskov goes on to say that the talks in Abu Dhabi in the coming days will be trilateral negotiations between Russia and Ukraine with U.S. mediation, and that the Americans and Ukrainians have their own channels to the Europeans.
Why this label?
Peskov agrees with the remark, saying Ukraine has already changed shape in terms of geography and that no one can deny the realities on the ground. He backs the premise that Ukraine's borders have changed.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Michael McFaulFormer U.S. ambassador to Russia and Hoover Institution senior fellow, interviewed on The Guy Benson Show on Fox News RadioBefore this statement
Guy Benson played the 60 Minutes exchange in which Trump says that at the first meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy "there was great disrespect shown to Russia" and then asked why the president would object to Ukrainian disrespect for their invaders. McFaul began by saying he agreed.
"imagine saying that after we were attacked on September 11th, we need to show more respect to Al-Qaeda. This is just absolutely insane. ... You might have to negotiate with him, and President Zelensky said he’s willing to talk to Putin, but to show respect for that individual just makes no sense. And I don’t understand why the president thinks that that resonates with anybody except for Vladimir Putin."
CondemnedCase context: Trump says Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape" after the war and the U.S. "got nothing" for its weapons; the Kremlin agrees, and Zelenskyy rejects ceding land
Full statement and sources
On Fox News Radio, McFaul says Trump's complaint that Ukraine showed disrespect to Russia is like asking Americans to respect Al-Qaeda after the September 11 attacks, and that showing Putin respect makes no sense.
After the statement
McFaul goes on to say the remark does not help the negotiations or make Trump sound on top of them to European allies. Between the two quoted passages, he says Putin has annexed about 20 percent of Ukraine, kills civilians every day and has kidnapped tens of thousands of Ukrainian children.
"Imagine Saying That After We Were Attacked On 9/11": Michael McFaul reacts to President Trump's 60 Minutes interview · Fox NewsFull transcript; the exchange on Trump's remark about disrespect to Russia opens the interviewWhy this label?
McFaul calls the remark about disrespect to Russia absolutely insane and says it resonates with no one except Putin, which criticizes the remark.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Guy BensonHost of The Guy Benson Show on Fox News Radio, interviewing Michael McFaulBefore this statement
Benson opened the interview by playing the 60 Minutes exchange in which Douthat asks whether Zelenskyy's hatred is more understandable because his country was invaded, and Trump answers that there was great disrespect shown to Russia at their first meeting.
"I don’t understand why anyone, let alone the President of the United States, and I think some of his policies on Russia have been very good, not always, but why would he object to perceived disrespect by the Ukrainians for their invaders, tormentors, the butchers of Moscow? I feel like disrespect is kind of the very least they should harbor. For the Russians."
CondemnedCase context: Trump says Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape" after the war and the U.S. "got nothing" for its weapons; the Kremlin agrees, and Zelenskyy rejects ceding land
Full statement and sources
On his Fox News Radio show, Benson says he does not understand why Trump would object to Ukrainians disrespecting the Russians who invaded them, and that disrespect is the least they should feel.
After the statement
McFaul replies that he agrees. Later in the interview, Benson says he understands talking to authoritarians in a conciliatory way as long as the United States is tough at the negotiating table.
"Imagine Saying That After We Were Attacked On 9/11": Michael McFaul reacts to President Trump's 60 Minutes interview · Fox NewsFull transcript; the exchange on Trump's remark about disrespect to Russia opens the interviewWhy this label?
Benson objects to Trump's complaint that disrespect was shown to Russia, saying it is the least Ukrainians should feel toward their invaders. He praises some of Trump's Russia policies but criticizes this remark.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(11)
Interview
Read the full transcript of Ross Douthat's interview with President Trump
Relevant passage: Transcript, exchange on the war in Ukraine, from "You came into office promising to make peace in Ukraine"
About this source
CBS News transcript of the 60 Minutes interview broadcast November 8, 2026. In the Ukraine exchange, Trump talks about his relations with Putin and Zelenskyy, the weapons the United States supplied, the coming talks and the shape Ukraine will have after a deal, then answers questions about Starlink.
- Author
- CBS News
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Zelenskyy's X post on his negotiators' report from the Abu Dhabi talks
About this source
Post on Zelenskyy's official X account summarizing his negotiating team's report on the Abu Dhabi meetings with the American and Russian delegations.
- Author
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Ukraine rejects Trump's new plan for shared territory
Relevant passage: Full article (The Telegraph, carried by Yahoo News)
About this source
Telegraph report on the first day of the Abu Dhabi talks, carried in full by Yahoo News. It reports, citing a Ukrainian source, that Ukraine rejected a U.S. proposal on the Donbas front line.
- Author
- Lily Shanagher, The Telegraph
- Published
- Accessed
Analysis
Trump Links Biden's Ukraine Aid to Pentagon's Iran War Funding Request
Relevant passage: Sections on the $350 billion figure and on replacing weapons sent to Ukraine
About this source
FactCheck.org article from March 2026 on Trump's statement that Biden gave $350 billion in cash and military equipment to Ukraine. It cites a February 2025 special inspector general report on the amount made available for aid to Ukraine.
- Author
- D'Angelo Gore
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Ukraine will likely 'end up with a little bit different shape' after war, Trump tells 60 Minutes
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Kyiv Independent report on the Ukraine section of Trump's 60 Minutes interview, quoting his remarks on the coming Abu Dhabi talks, the weapons sent to Ukraine, Putin and Zelenskyy, and Starlink.
- Author
- Lachlan Hyatt, The Kyiv Independent
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Zelenskyy's X post quoting his DR interview on ceding land for peace
About this source
Post on Zelenskyy's official X account with an English excerpt of his interview with DR, about the question of exchanging Donbas for security guarantees.
- Author
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
Zelenskyj: Rusland stopper ikke ved Ukraine
Relevant passage: Full article, in Danish; the question on Trump's remark comes after the section on Trump's mediation
About this source
Danish broadcaster DR's article on its interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the presidential office in Kyiv, published in Danish. He is asked about European support, the Abu Dhabi talks, Trump's remark that Ukraine could end up with a different shape, and Donbas.
- Author
- Karina Marie Lin Halskov, DR Nyheder
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Ukraine 'already a different country' geographically, Kremlin says
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Anadolu Agency report, carried by A News, on Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov's November 9, 2026 news briefing in Moscow, where he was asked about Trump's remark on Ukraine's shape and about the Abu Dhabi talks.
- Author
- Anadolu Agency
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
"Imagine Saying That After We Were Attacked On 9/11": Michael McFaul reacts to President Trump's 60 Minutes interview
Relevant passage: Full transcript; the exchange on Trump's remark about disrespect to Russia opens the interview
About this source
Fox News Radio page with the audio and full transcript of Guy Benson's November 9, 2026 interview with Michael McFaul, which opens with the 60 Minutes clip in which Trump says disrespect was shown to Russia.
- Author
- The Guy Benson Show, Fox News Radio
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
CNN News Central transcript, November 9, 2026: David Sanger on Trump's remark about Russia
Relevant passage: CNN News Central, 9:30 a.m. ET half hour; the Ukraine clip and Sanger answer at about 9:35 a.m. ET
About this source
CNN's rush transcript of the 9:30 a.m. ET half hour of CNN News Central on November 9, 2026. Sara Sidner plays the 60 Minutes clip in which Trump says disrespect was shown to Russia and asks David Sanger how he took it.
- Author
- CNN
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
CNN News Central transcript, November 9, 2026: James Stavridis on Trump's Ukraine remarks
Relevant passage: CNN News Central, 7:30 a.m. ET half hour; the Ukraine clip and Stavridis interview at about 7:35 a.m. ET
About this source
CNN's rush transcript of the 7:30 a.m. ET half hour of CNN News Central on November 9, 2026. Kate Bolduan plays the 60 Minutes clip of Trump on the weapons sent to Ukraine and Ukraine's shape after the war, then asks retired Adm. James Stavridis what he hears in it.
- Author
- CNN
- Published
- Accessed
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Trump says Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape" after the war and the U.S. "got nothing" for its weapons; the Kremlin agrees, and Zelenskyy rejects ceding land
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/trump-60-minutes-ukraine-different-shape
The Dispute Index. "Trump says Ukraine will "end up with a little bit different shape" after the war and the U.S. "got nothing" for its weapons; the Kremlin agrees, and Zelenskyy rejects ceding land". First published: 2026-11-15. Last updated: 2026-11-15. https://disputeindex.com/cases/trump-60-minutes-ukraine-different-shape