Under discussion will be the situation in Ukraine and the prospects for an end to the unnecessary hostilities that have claimed countless lives on both sides for several years.

According to Leavitt, the meeting was requested by President Putin.

Responding to a question from the press, Leavitt said, "This meeting came about because the President of Russia asked the President of the United States to meet through his special envoy, Steve Whitcoff, who, as you all know, traveled to Russia to have a conversation with Putin at his request. And so the President is agreeing to this meeting at the request of President Putin, and the goal of this meeting for the President is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war."

The meeting in Alaska between President Trump and Vladimir Putin has been criticized on the grounds that Ukrainian President Zelensky will not be present. According to Leavitt, however, that is something President Trump hopes to arrange in the future, if possible.

"The President said at this podium yesterday, when he joined all of you in the room, that he hopes in the future there can be a trilateral meeting with these three leaders to finally bring this conflict to an end," Leavitt said.

The President, earlier, said his goal is to have Putin and Zelensky meet directly to hammer out an agreement to end the war.

""Ultimately, I'm going to put the two of them in a room. I'll be there, or I won't be there," Trump said according to Fox News. "And I think it'll get solved."