Trump-Putin summit: Zelenskyy to travel to DC on Monday to meet with President Trump

Both President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have spent the run-up to Friday's meeting staking out their public positions -- and signaling the strategies they may employ behind closed doors.

"President Trump needs to stick to his discussion points and not get carried away by the moment. Putin will be pushing for an agreement favorable to Russia, and Trump might be tempted to agree as a way to end the war, as he has promised," said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser on defense and security issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"It's very concerning that Ukraine is not part of the discussions. Putin does not regard Ukraine as a real country, and its exclusion seems to accept that position. Any follow-on discussions should include both Ukraine and the Europeans," he said.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his Friday evening address that he hopes the U.S. will maintain a strong position in its talks with Russia.

"Of course, I receive reports from our intelligence and diplomats about preparations for the meeting in Alaska and about what Putin is bringing with him. We are also receiving reports from regions of Ukraine following Russian strikes ... On the day of the negotiations, they are still killing people and that speaks volumes," Zelenskyy said.

"Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible to end the war and we hope for a strong position from the U.S. Everything will depend on this -- the Russians respect American strength. Strength alone," Zelenskyy added.

"The time difference with Alaska is 11 hours, so tomorrow will start early for everyone in Europe. We are preparing for the relevant talks. Russia must end the war it started and has dragged on for years. The killings must stop. A meeting of leaders is needed. At the very least, Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia must meet in this format for effective decisions to be made. Security guarantees are needed. Lasting peace is urgently needed. Everyone knows the key objectives. I would like to thank everyone who is helping to achieve real results."

Two B-2 bombers were flown into Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska ahead of the meeting, according to two officials.

The stealth bombers are the same kind used by the U.S. to strike Iran's nuclear sites in June's Operation Midnight Hammer.

The B-2 is considered a symbol of U.S. power, as the bombers can fly around the world nonstop and can carry both conventional and nuclear munitions.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment.

-ABC News' Cindy Smith, Katherine Faulders and Anne Flaherty

President Donald Trump told Fox News that if his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't go well, "I would walk."

"Heading in, what's your initial feeling? How are you feeling about what you're going to get out of this?" Fox News' Bret Baier asked Trump.

"I think we're going to do very well. Our country is doing very well. We're setting records economically like we never have before, including the stock markets are all at record high. We're taking in trillions and trillions of dollars with tariffs. We're going for a meeting with President Putin in Alaska, and I think it's going to work out very well. And if it doesn't, I'm gonna head back home real fast," Trump said.

"I mean, if it doesn't, you walk?" Baier asked.

"I would walk, yeah," Trump said.

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow