The New York Times reports that Donald Trump is considering trade agreements with Vladimir Putin before the war in Ukraine has ended, according to Sky TG24. The Italian broadcaster carried the report on Friday, September 18, 2026, as part of its live coverage of the conflict.
Sky TG24's headline states that Trump is ready to pursue commercial deals with Putin ahead of a halt to the fighting. Several Italian outlets carried the same story, including ANSA, Il Sole 24 ORE and ilfattoquotidiano.it, all attributing the claim to the New York Times.
The reports describe the idea as something under evaluation rather than a settled plan. No details were given on what such agreements might cover, when they could be reached, or what conditions might apply. The material available does not indicate whether the proposal has been discussed with Kyiv, with European allies, or with Moscow.
The claim arrives amid ongoing coverage of the war in Ukraine, which Italian media continue to follow through daily live updates. Trump's approach to Russia has drawn attention since he returned to office, and any move to open trade channels with Moscow before the fighting stops would mark a shift from the sanctions policy pursued by previous US administrations and by European partners.
What to watch next: whether the White House, the Kremlin or Ukrainian officials respond to the New York Times report, and whether any formal proposal follows.