Donald Trump has declared he will not make a peace deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ahead of Trump's Alaska summit with Putin tomorrow, the US President told Fox News Radio that he thought the Russian President would make a deal.
However, Mr Trump said it would not come until the pair met with the Ukrainian President.
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"The second meeting is going to be very, very important, because that's going to be a meeting where they make a deal," the US President said.
"And I don't want to use the word 'divvy' things up."
Mr Trump added that "to a certain extent" the term "divvy" was not actually a bad term.
European leaders have acknowledged Trump's influence in securing a deal, however, they have warned against a deal without involving Ukraine.
Donald Trump is set to meet with the Russian President in Alaska
|SUPPLIED
The leaders have urged for Mr Zelensky to be present during any future talks.
It comes as Mr Trump is set to meet with his Russian counterpart for talks at a US Air Force base in Alaska on Friday.
However, the US President estimated that there was a one-in-four chance that his summit would end in failure.
Mr Trump said he could impose further sanctions on Russia if the talks broke down.
Volodymyr Zelensky has left Downing Street after meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer
| PA"This meeting sets up the second meeting," he said.
"But there is a 25 per cent chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting."
On whether he would impose sanctions, Mr Trump said: "I would, yeah ... if it's not solved."
Meanwhile, a Kremlin plane has landed in Alaska ahead of talks between the two presidents on Friday.
It has been reported that the plane was carrying the Russian delegation.
Russian state media has reported that Mr Putin has no plans to sign any documents during the meeting with Mr Trump.
The report by the Interfax news agency said any prediction about the outcome of talks on Friday would be a "mistake".
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met with Mr Zelensky in Downing Street for a private breakfast earlier today.
European leaders were said to have been left reassured by Mr Trump ahead of tomorrow's summit, with the US reportedly focused on ensuring Mr Putin commits to a lasting ceasefire.
While the focus will be on Ukraine, it is understood Moscow is also determined to re-establish economic co-operation with Washington.