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President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are in Anchorage, Alaska, for high-stakes discussions about Russia's .
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the goal of the meeting is "for the president is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war." A top economic cooperation between Washington and Moscow is also on the agenda.
Following the talks, Mr. Trump is expected to be joined by Putin for a rare joint news conference.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not invited to the Alaska summit, but Mr. Trump has said another round of talks with both Russia and Ukraine may happen next, possibly within days.
Zelenskyy and European leaders on Wednesday and said he hoped an "immediate ceasefire" will be the main focus of the meeting. But Zelenskyy has that "talks about us, without us, will not work" for Ukraine. He said he told Mr. Trump and allied leaders that "Putin is bluffing" and "doesn't want peace."
Mr. Trump there would be "very severe consequences" for Russia if it doesn't agree to end the war, but did not elaborate on what that that might entail.
Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, igniting a that continues to grind on in the east and in that have terrorized Ukrainian cities.
Presidents Trump and Putin are expected to meet today beginning at around 3 p.m. EDT (Alaska is 4 hours behind Eastern Time). The full timing of all the day's events has not yet been announced. Following their talks, they are expected to hold a joint news conference in the afternoon local time, which would be Friday evening on the East Coast.
The meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents is taking place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska. The location is roughly midway between Washington, D.C., and Moscow.
The TheNews team in Anchorage for the summit includes "CBS Evening News" anchor John Dickerson; "Face the Nation" moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan; chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes; and White House reporter Willie James Inman. Senior foreign correspondent Debora Patta joins from London.
Coverage will also include insights and analysis from TheNews contributors including former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan; former Homeland Security official Samantha Vinograd; and Lt. Gen. HR McMaster, former national security adviser to President Trump.
