Trump says US will do business with Ukraine and Russia after the war
Donald Trump said the United States will continue doing business with both Ukraine and Russia once the war ends. Speaking to reporters in Palm Beach on October 24, he also said the war is closer to ending than ever before.
Key points
- Trump made the statement in Palm Beach on October 24, 2026.
- He said the end of the Russia-Ukraine war is closer than ever before.
- Trump said the US will do business with Ukraine and Russia after the war.
- Trump said he had recently spoken with Vladimir Putin about settling the war.
- Zelensky said Kyiv was ready for an agreement freezing combat along the current front line.
- Steve Witkoff met Zelensky in Oslo on October 20 and Putin in Saint Petersburg on October 21.
- Melania Trump said a local ceasefire had been reached concerning the Russian-occupied city of Olešky in Kherson region.
Why it matters
Trump's statement signals a prospective US economic posture toward both parties after the war and ties the continuation of US business with Ukraine and Russia to the possibility of a peace agreement. His assessment that the war is nearing an end came amid continued diplomatic activity involving US, Ukrainian, Russian and European representatives.
What happened
Donald Trump told reporters in Palm Beach on October 24 that the end of the Russia-Ukraine war was closer than ever before and that the United States would conduct business with both countries once it ended. He also said he had recently spoken with Vladimir Putin about settling the war and mentioned an agreement with Ukraine concerning mineral resources valued at up to one trillion dollars. The remarks followed diplomatic meetings in Oslo and Saint Petersburg. Zelensky said Kyiv was ready for an agreement freezing combat along the current front line, while Witkoff said he brought Putin documents outlining approaches to ending the war. Melania Trump also said a local ceasefire had been reached concerning Olešky in Kherson region.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reports placed Trump's statement within the broader context of peace efforts: Kyiv's readiness to freeze combat along the current front line, meetings in Oslo and Saint Petersburg, and the reported local ceasefire concerning Olešky. The coverage emphasized the prospective economic relationship with Ukraine as part of a broader post-war settlement involving both Ukraine and Russia.
Background
Trump said he had recently spoken with Putin about settling Russia's war against Ukraine and suggested 200% tariffs on Ukraine and Russia might compel a peace agreement, while doubting their effectiveness because the US imports too little from both countries. Witkoff met Zelensky in Oslo and Putin in Saint Petersburg, where he said he brought documents outlining approaches to ending the war. Melania Trump said a local ceasefire had been reached concerning Olešky, although its scope and implementation were not detailed in the supplied facts.