Volodymyr Zelensky said in a new interview that he believes Vladimir Putin will significantly "benefit" from his meeting with Trump.

Friday's Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin "is a listening exercise for the president," the White House said on Tuesday, tempering expectations for a quick Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal.

According to the White House, Friday’s meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, will not end with a ceasefire or sweeping trade agreements. Officials say the meeting is meant for Trump to judge Putin directly and decide if there is a real path toward ending the war in Ukraine.