Trump Says Russia-Ukraine Deal Is 'Getting Close,' Eyes G20 at Doral

President Donald Trump said the United States is “getting close” to a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, according to an interview clip posted Saturday by conservative host Benny Johnson on X.

“I think we’re getting close to a deal there. I didn’t say that before. Now I can say it,” Trump said in the interview, as quoted by Azerbaijan’s APA news agency and Ukrainian outlet Glavnoe.

PEACE ON EARTH by Christmas 🎄

Trump signals we will see a MAJOR Peace Deal at the G20 in December.

There are rumors Russia and Ukraine could sign an agreement at the G20 summit in December at the Trump's Doral property — and may include Iran.

"I think we're getting close to… pic.twitter.com/9wGttCtCMj

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 31, 2026

According to APA, Trump did not rule out that an agreement between Moscow and Kyiv could be taken up at the Group of 20 summit scheduled for December at his Trump National Doral resort in Florida. APA reported that Trump also expressed hope that peace with Iran could become part of the broader process.

Johnson’s post framed the remarks as a signal of a “MAJOR Peace Deal” by Christmas and cited “rumors” that Russia and Ukraine could sign at the Doral summit. Glavnoe noted that Trump’s quoted words do not directly confirm that the two countries have agreed to sign anything at the G20, and that the Christmas timeline came from Johnson’s own commentary, not from the president. No signed agreement, date or terms have been announced by the White House, Kyiv or Moscow.

Talks set to resume after Election Day

The comments land as negotiators prepare for another round. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday at a press conference in The Hague with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten that he expects a trilateral meeting of Ukrainian, American and Russian negotiators between Nov. 6 and Nov. 10, provisionally in Abu Dhabi, according to RBC-Ukraine and LB.ua.

“We are waiting for the American side; we hope they will be ready with all the answers after the elections, and after 4 November we will have a date,” Zelenskyy said, as quoted by LB.ua. He said one or two technical-level meetings could be enough to prepare for a meeting of leaders, according to the same report.

Zelenskyy listed Ukraine’s priorities as energy and maritime ceasefires, a prisoner-of-war exchange, the release of Ukrainian civilians held in Russian prisons and the return of children, RBC-Ukraine reported. He said Kyiv is ready to discuss territory “only at the leaders’ level,” according to the outlet.

Moscow has been more guarded. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian broadcaster Vesti that “no specific date has been proposed yet,” and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump’s earlier prediction that talks would happen “soon” by saying “‘Soon’ is a flexible term,” according to The Asia Business Daily, citing The Kyiv Independent.

Why it matters

Trump has repeatedly said he wants the war ended. His willingness to say publicly, three days before the Nov. 3 midterms, that a deal is close raises the stakes for the post-election round. Whether it produces a ceasefire or another delay will become clearer once a date for the Abu Dhabi talks is set, which Zelenskyy said he expects after Nov. 4.

Daily Beltway will update this story as the White House, Kyiv or Moscow confirm a date or terms.

Sources

• Benny Johnson on X (Trump interview clip), Oct. 31, 2026
• APA: Trump does not rule out signing of Russia-Ukraine peace agreement at G20 summit
• Glavnoe: Trump says deal on Ukraine war is approaching
• RBC-Ukraine: Zelenskyy says peace talks could take place Nov. 6-10
• LB.ua: Zelenskyy expects Ukraine-US-Russia meeting between 6 and 10 November
• The Asia Business Daily: Russia cautious on trilateral talks dates

Reporting by Daily Beltway.