“Both parties to this war will not be in the room, so this is a chance for the president to better see how we can work to bring it to an end," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Trump will have a one-on-one meeting with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, and might also plan to visit Russia in the future, according to the White House. "Perhaps there are plans to travel to Russia down the line," Leavitt said.

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Notably, major disagreements are still unresolved prior to the negotiations. Trump has indicated that the two nations might need to cede territory to bring an end to the 3½-year war. While President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine stands firm that his nation s constitution does not allow such a concession and no agreement can be reached without direct participation from Ukraine.

The White House declined to comment on whether Trump and Zelenskiy discussed anything prior to the Putin summit. Trump has indicated that Zelenskiy may be invited for a subsequent round of talks with Putin.

"The president has tremendous respect for all involved in bringing this conflict to its conclusion," Leavitt stressed.