President Donald Trump said he is "very close" to arranging a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and will announce the location shortly, describing the venue as one that "will be very popular." A White House official later told Reuters the encounter could take place as early as next week, marking the first face-to-face meeting between U.S. and Russian leaders since 2021. The prospective summit comes as Washington intensifies economic pressure on Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. Trump has set a Friday deadline for Russia to move toward a cease-fire or face additional secondary sanctions, and he has threatened tariffs on countries—potentially including China—that continue buying Russian oil. The White House said Moscow had expressed interest in the talks, and Trump indicated he is also open to a separate or subsequent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Details on the exact date and venue are expected "later today," Trump said. The meeting’s outcome could shape the next phase of U.S. sanctions policy and broader efforts to secure a negotiated settlement in Ukraine.