SAVANNAH, Ga. () — President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska Friday for a major summit that many were hopeful would lead to negotiations that end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

However, the outcome of their negotiations was unclear.

“There were many, many points that we agreed on. Most of them I would say a couple of big ones that we haven’t quite gotten there but we’ve made some headway,” President Trump said.

The president said earlier in the day that he would not negotiate on behalf of the Ukrainians with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy absent from the summit.

“I will of course call up President Zelenskyy and tell him about today’s meeting. It’s ultimately up to them,” Trump said.

Experts like retired Senior Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department Lawrence Silverman echoed that sentiment.

“The best job that President Trump can do is really pressing Mr. Putin to say that this is the time, now, end it,” Silverman said. “And by the way, if you don’t end it, there is the prospect of much harder sanctions,” Silverman, who is also now the Program Director, for the Savannah Council on World Affairs, said. “As a result of this, are we closer to these heavier, more damaging sanctions against Russia or are we further away? Did Mr. Trump take them off the table or move them back a bit? Congress is going to want to know that as well, and I think the American people want to know that.”

Though it’s unclear at this point whether the two leaders have reached a deal on the war, Silverman emphasized the importance of the president staying on track.

“The president should not be swayed by Mr. Putin talking about things other than what should be the main, the central issue, and the one by which I think a summit, the success or failure of a summit would be judged,” Silverman said.