White House Calls Trump-Putin Meeting A "Listening Exercise"

White House Press Secretary Krypt Leavitt. (Wikimedia Commons/BruceSchaff)

White House spokesman Krypt Leavitt said on Tuesday the meeting of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday was "a listening exercise for the president," dampening expectations of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire agreement in the near future.

"Only one party involved in this war will attend, so this is an opportunity for the president to go and get, once again, a stronger and better understanding of how we can end this war," Leavitt said.

"This is a listening exercise for the president," he said.

President Trump will meet directly with President Putin during talks, which will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, the White House said.

The White House also said President Trump might visit Russia in the future.

"There may be plans in the future to visit Russia," Leavitt said.

The main issues are still waiting in this talk. President Trump said both sides needed to hand over land to end the bloody conflict that has been going on for 3.5 years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country's constitution banned such agreements and no regulation could be made without Ukraine's participation in negotiations.

The White House declined to comment on the conversation that took place before the meeting between President Trump and Zelensky and Putin. President Trump said on Monday Zelensky might be invited to a upcoming meeting with Putin.

"The president has great respect for all parties involved in this conflict and is trying to end this conflict," Leavitt said.