President Trump has been pushing to broker an end to the war in Ukraine since he took office. But it hasn't been quick or easy.

"The presidents will undoubtedly focus on discussing ways to reach a sustainable settlement to the Ukraine crisis," a Kremlin aide said on Saturday.

On Friday evening, Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social that a "highly anticipated meeting" between him and Putin would take place on 15 August in the "great state of Alaska". "Further details to follow," he said. Trump had said the meeting location would be "a very popular one for a number of reasons".