U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed optimism ahead of his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, saying he believes Putin “wants to make peace” and won’t “mess around.”

Speaking to reporters, Trump said he would quickly assess the tone of the meeting.

“We’re going to find out where everybody stands. I’ll know within the first two to five minutes whether it’s going to be a good meeting or a bad one,” he stated.

“If it’s a bad meeting, it’ll end very quickly. If it’s a good one, we’ll be on track to achieving peace in the near future.”

Trump reiterated his belief that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 would not have occurred under his leadership.

“This war should have never happened. If I weren’t president, Putin would’ve taken all of Ukraine. But I am president, and he’s not going to mess around with me.”

The ongoing war in Ukraine has entered its third year, with Russia controlling roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Western intelligence estimates that more than 1 million Russian troops have been killed or injured since the start of the invasion.

The high-stakes summit in Alaska marks a pivotal moment for both leaders as the global community watches closely for any signs of de-escalation or diplomatic breakthrough.