President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he expects to quickly assess whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in negotiating a peace deal regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump indicated that he would likely determine Putin's intentions within the first two minutes of their meeting scheduled for Friday in Alaska.

"At the end of that meeting, probably the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made," Trump said during a White House press conference. He described the upcoming meeting as a "feel-out meeting" and expressed uncertainty about its outcome, saying, "It’ll be good, but it might be bad." Trump suggested he might either encourage continued fighting or propose a potential deal.

The backdrop of this meeting is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has persisted since Russia's invasion in February 2022. Putin aims to solidify Russia's territorial gains, while Trump is advocating for a ceasefire that has yet to materialize. Trump's eagerness to reach an agreement has raised concerns in Ukraine and Europe that any deal could disproportionately favor Russia without adequate input from Ukrainian officials.

During the press conference, Trump avoided committing to include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his discussions with Putin. He criticized Zelenskyy for not achieving peace despite attending numerous meetings since the war began, stating, "He’s been to a lot of meetings, and nothing happened." Trump contrasted Zelenskyy's leadership with Putin's long-standing authority in Russia.

After his meeting with Putin, Trump mentioned that he would inform Zelenskyy and European leaders about the discussions, clarifying, "I’m not going to make a deal. It’s not up to me to make a deal." He acknowledged that any significant agreement might involve land swaps but did not provide further details.

Trump's relationship with Zelenskyy has been tumultuous, with past criticisms suggesting Zelenskyy was ungrateful for U.S. support. However, Trump has recently softened his stance toward Zelenskyy, indicating a willingness to engage with him after the meeting with Putin.

"President Putin invited me to get involved," Trump noted, expressing appreciation for Putin's decision to meet in the U.S. rather than insisting on a meeting in Russia. He reiterated his desire for a ceasefire and a mutually beneficial deal.

As the meeting approaches, European allies have expressed concern over the lack of Ukrainian involvement in the discussions. Germany has organized a virtual meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy, NATO leaders, and other European officials to strategize on increasing pressure on Russia and preparing for future peace negotiations.

In the context of ongoing military actions, a recent Ukrainian drone strike resulted in one death and two injuries in a region east of Moscow. Russia's Defense Ministry reported intercepting and destroying 39 Ukrainian drones over several regions, including the annexed Crimean Peninsula.