The key facts

  • Trump: «I think we're close to a deal»
  • Johnson suggests signing at the G20 summit in December
  • Russia and the US are coordinating a date for talks — Yuri Ushakov

Trump suggested a settlement could come soon

US President Donald Trump, in an interview with American journalist Benny Johnson, said that the Ukrainian conflict is close to a settlement. «I think we're close to a deal. I think there's a pretty good chance it will all work out», he said. Johnson noted that Russia and Ukraine could sign an agreement at the G20 summit in December, and that Iran could be mentioned in the text of the agreement.

Context of the negotiation track

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov had previously reported on progress in the negotiation process: according to him, Russia and the United States have begun coordinating a date for talks on Ukraine. On October 21, he stated that Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, expressed readiness to resume trilateral talks. Thus, Trump's statement came against the backdrop of ongoing coordination of the format and timing of contacts; however, sources do not report on the content of a possible deal, and the mention of the December G20 summit is Johnson's assessment, not a confirmed decision by the parties.