Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to hold their long-anticipated summit at a U.S. military base in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, according to a White House official.

The meeting between the two leaders at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson will be their first during Trump’s second term and comes as the U.S. president seeks to bring an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

CNN first reported on the meeting’s location, which Russians have touted for its historical significance: The United States purchased the territory from the then-Russian Empire 158 years ago.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday described the upcoming summit as a “feel-out meeting,” saying it was “not a concession” to Putin. He added, “We’re going to know very early in that meeting whether this thing has any chance of success or not.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not expected to join Trump and Putin in Alaska.

Trump said Monday that Zelenskyy “wasn’t a part of it” when asked if the Ukrainian leader had been invited.

“I would say he could go, but he’s gone to a lot of meetings. You know, he’s been there for three-and-a-half years — nothing happened,” Trump said.

But Trump, Zelenskyy, Vice President JD Vance and European leaders are scheduled to convene virtually Wednesday, according to a European official with direct knowledge of the meetings.

Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said they will not forfeit territory that Russia illegally annexed.

Trump said last week that Ukraine and Russia would likely be “swapping” portions of territory as part of a deal to end the war.

“It’s actually nothing easy. It’s very complicated,” Trump said at the time.

Trump repeatedly claimed on the campaign trail that he would bring an end to the war within the first 24 hours of his second term. During a presidential debate in September, Trump even said he could resolve the conflict “before I even become president.”

After he took office, Trump said that timeline was “an exaggeration.”