Global investors are eyeing defence and energy sectors as European leaders rally behind Ukraine amid signs the U.S. may push Kyiv to accept a peace deal favourable to Russia.
Markets are facing a turbulent week as geopolitical risk rises over Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. European leaders, including those from Germany, France and the UK, will also attend, seeking to strengthen Ukraine’s hand in the talks.
Trump, fresh from a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, said on Saturday that he wanted a “rapid” peace deal — comments that analysts see as increasing pressure on Kyiv to concede territory in exchange for an end to the war.
“Trump seems inclined to reduce or even end U.S. support for Ukraine. Putin got him interested in business deals,” said Berenberg Chief Economist Holger Schmieding in a client note. “The U.S. may lift its sanctions on Russia and invest in Russia instead. Europe will have to spend a lot more for its own defence.”
The geopolitical shift is fuelling speculation about new U.S.-Russia cooperation on Arctic oil and gas projects. Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett flagged the potential exploitation of 15 % of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30 % of undiscovered natural gas in the region, warning of a possible deep bear market for energy.
Brent crude, which dropped more than 1 % on Friday to trade near $66 a barrel, is still “priced for a Ukraine peace deal,” Hartnett said.
European defence stocks have surged since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, with shares in Italy’s Leonardo up more than 600 % and Germany’s Rheinmetall gaining 1,500 % over the period.
The euro has also strengthened, up 13 % against the dollar this year, trading around $1.17 on Friday.
Ukraine’s sovereign bonds — a key sentiment barometer — rallied earlier this month as news of the Trump–Putin summit broke but have since stalled at around 55 cents on the dollar. “I would think they will be a bit weaker… the mood seems to favour Russia following Friday’s summit,” said Jeff Grills, head of emerging market debt at Aegon Asset Management.
European leaders are expected to press for strong security guarantees and a clear role for Ukraine in any final settlement during the upcoming talks at The White House.
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Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, has died after a Ferrari crash on Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles.
U.S. President Donald Trump has approved plans to construct a new class of battleships, which he described as larger, faster and significantly more powerful than any previous U.S. warship. His administration has referred to these ships as “Trump-class.”
The U.S. will retain control of oil and ships seized off Venezuela’s coast, President Donald Trump announced on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is monitoring recent Iranian military exercises and will raise the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Washington next week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, December 20.
A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some businesses to close temporarily, officials said.
The United States and Venezuela have been jamming GPS signals in parts of the Caribbean, raising safety concerns for civilian air and maritime traffic, as tensions between the two countries escalate, according to The New York Times.
Israel’s government has approved the creation of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that analysts say further undermines the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
The U.S. State Department has authorised a potential Foreign Military Sale of Advanced Medium Range Air‑to‑Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Denmark, aimed at bolstering the Scandinavian nation’s air defence capabilities, the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency said on Monday.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the appointment of Mark Wiseman, a former global investment banker and head of Canada’s largest pension fund, as the country’s next ambassador to the United States.
Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, has died after a Ferrari crash on Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles.
U.S. President Donald Trump has approved plans to construct a new class of battleships, which he described as larger, faster and significantly more powerful than any previous U.S. warship. His administration has referred to these ships as “Trump-class.”
The U.S. will retain control of oil and ships seized off Venezuela’s coast, President Donald Trump announced on Monday.
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