The White House called Friday's meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump a "listening exercise," but even if it aimed to manage expectations over the chances of a breakthrough in the war in Ukraine, other diplomatic outcomes could ensue.

Trump and other administration officials signaled that the Alaska summit will not end the fighting in Ukraine, and that it would likely require a follow-up summit involving both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky , who will be absent in Anchorage.

Even without a ceasefire, experts have told Newsweek the meeting has other consequences, like the return of Putin to the top table of diplomacy and the sidelining of Europe over the war he started.

Why It Matters

Trump has downplayed expectations for his meeting, in whi

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