President Donald Trump has often bragged about his warm relationship with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. But in the months leading up to the leaders’ first meeting in six years, Trump began asking Europeans and White House aides what’s changed about his counterpart.

The White House is lowering expectations for any breakthrough from President Trump’s summit Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, using terms like “listening session” and “feel-out meeting” to describe the planned discussion about the war in Ukraine.

Friday's Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin "is a listening exercise for the president," the White House said on Tuesday, tempering expectations for a quick Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal.