Forget about a ceasefire right now. President Trump's sole short-term goal for his Russia-Ukraine diplomacy, advisers say, is to get the countries' leaders face-to-face to talk peace. • "Everything else is foreplay," a Trump adviser tells Axios. "Everything is to get to that moment for peace."

Why it matters: Trump was heavily criticized for abruptly abandoning his demand for a ceasefire from Russian President Vladimir Putin during their Alaska summit on Friday. • Putin has increased the pressure on Ukraine militarily by pressing forward with the invasion and intensifying missile and drone strikes in the hopes of gobbling up more territory, giving him more leverage at the negotiating table.

The big picture: White House advisers claim that Monday's crucial meeting between Trump and Uk

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