KYIV, Ukraine -- President Donald Trump on Monday previewed his highly-anticipated meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin, saying he's hopeful for "constructive conversations" but that it isn't up to him to make a peace deal.

Trump confirmed last week he would sit down with Putin in Alaska as his imposed deadline for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine came and went. No exact time or specific venue has been announced for Friday's summit.

"This is really a feel-out meeting, a little bit," Trump told reporters in the White House briefing room, where he held a news conference on a federal takeover of Washington's police force and deployment of the National Guard to deal, he said, with the city's crime and homelessness.

"I think if it weren't for me, he would not be even talking

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