President Donald Trump appeared to lower expectations for his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska Friday, telling reporters it's "really a feel-out meeting," and he may "leave and say, 'good luck,' and that'll be the end."

Speaking in the White House briefing room Monday, Trump said he'll know "within the first two minutes" of his meeting with Putin whether a deal can be made on ending the war in Ukraine.

Asked how he will know so quickly, Trump responded: "Because that's what I do. I make deals."

Trump and Putin's meeting Friday to discuss bringing an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine will be the first U.S.-Russia summit since 2021, when former President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has so far been excluded from the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska on Friday, and the Europeans are unlikely to be invited.

All are wary that Putin and Trump might agree, without Ukraine's participation, to land swaps of Ukraine’s territory or other terms that might favor Russia.