Trump-Putin talks in Alaska to be ‘listening exercise’ for Trump says White House

The White House said Tuesday that Friday’s Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin would serve as “a listening exercise for the president,” playing down hopes for an immediate Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal.

"Only one party that's involved in this war is going to be present, and so this is for the president to go and to get, again, a more firm and better understanding of how we can hopefully bring this war to an end," said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

"This is a listening exercise for the president."

Trump will meet one-on-one with Putin during the talks, which will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, the White House said. He may, in the future, also visit Russia.

"Perhaps there are plans in the future to travel to Russia," said Leavitt.

Key issues remain ahead of the talks. Trump has said the two sides will need to cede land to end the bloody 3-1/2-year-old conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country's constitution prohibits such a deal and that no arrangements can be made without Ukraine's participation in talks.

The White House declined to comment on conversations taking place before the Putin meeting between Trump and Zelensky.

Trump said on Monday that Zelensky may be invited to a future meeting with Putin.

"The president has deep respect for all parties that are involved in this conflict and are trying to bring this conflict to an end," said Leavitt.