President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss Ukraine negotiations, with potential sanctions looming if Russia refuses to cooperate on peace talks.

The Russian leader senses a chance for more international recognition, while his American counterpart hopes to play peacemaker.

Russia says it invaded Ukraine to halt Kyiv's ambitions to join NATO, the U.S.-led defensive alliance, which it saw as a major security threat. It also accuses Kyiv of persecuting ethnic Russians and their culture in Ukraine.