Ukraine sidelined from Trump-Putin summit

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The White House is calling it an early step in what could be a much longer process to end the war in Ukraine.

President Trump says Friday’s meeting with Vladimir Putin is about opening the door to diplomacy, not signing a peace deal just yet.

“If we can get the war solved, we’ll be very happy,” said Trump.

The president says the sit-down is a chance to listen to Putin with formal negotiations still to come once Ukraine is at the table.

“I think President Putin will make peace. I think President Zelenskyy will make peace. We’ll see if they can get along,” said Trump.

President Trump says he’ll know right away which direction his meeting with Putin is going.

“If it’s a bad meeting, it’ll end very quickly,” said Trump.

In London, the U.K. prime minister welcomed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy with the Alaska meeting at the top of their agenda.

Meanwhile in Moscow, Putin told his government he believes the U.S. is making a good faith effort.

“We want there to be peace. We’re going to do everything we can to achieve one but ultimately it will be up to Ukraine and Russia to agree,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to attend the meeting.

“The longer these wars go on, the harder they are to end,” said Rubio.

And ahead of Friday’s summit Ukraine and Russia completed a prisoner swap, each side exchanging 84 people.

Both leaders are expected to hold a short joint press conference after the meeting, but the White House is making clear, no major agreement is expected.