NATO Leader, Ukraine Ambassador and Ukrainians Praises Trump’s Diplomacy, Russian Stock Market Surges In Advance of Putin-Trump Alaska Summit

The Trump effect.

When Vladimir Putin visits Akaska to meet with President Trump on Friday, August 15, it will mark the first visit to Alaska by a Russian head of state since Alaska was sold by the Russians to America for $7.2 million in 1867. pic.twitter.com/ethFTAcv60

— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) August 8, 2025

It’s not just NATO that is happy to see the prospects of peace growing every day, but the Ukrainians are as well. Gallup polled Ukrainians, and war weariness is taking its toll on Ukrainian morale. Gallup: Most Ukrainians now favor ending the war with Russia through negotiations, as support for fighting until victory has dropped sharply since the early days of the conflict. Although their hopes for joining NATO and the European Union have faded and approval of U.S. leadership has plummeted, Ukrainians still see the EU, U.K. and U.S. as key to ending the war. Yet, most doubt that will happen anytime soon. More than three years into the war, Ukrainians’ support for continuing to fight until victory has hit a new low. In Gallup’s most recent poll of Ukraine — conducted in early July — 69% say they favor a negotiated end to the war as soon as possible, compared with 24% who support continuing to fight until victory. This marks a nearly complete reversal from public opinion in 2022, when 73% favored Ukraine fighting until victory and 22% preferred that Ukraine seek a negotiated end as soon as possible. (Gallup) In light of this reality, the Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova endorsed the Alaska summit to be held this Friday. Oksana Markarova on Face the Nation: “Well, that’s something that all Ukraine prays for President Trump to be effective and to have great results. And as you know, since the discussions here with President Trump, Ukraine agreed to full ceasefire, to partial ceasefires, to any type of ceasefires. Because again, let’s remind everyone, Ukraine did not start this war. Putin started this war in 2014, he continued with full fledged invasion in 2022, and it’s Ukrainian citizens, Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian defenders on the front lines, Ukrainian children who suffer every day. So yes, we want Putin to stop, and we really are hopeful that this push from President Trump, and the sanction packages which are on the table, and secondary sanctions which are already implemented against those who help Russia, will convince President Putin that this is time for him to finally stop his aggression. (Face the Nation)

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are meeting in Alaska this Friday. Both the White House and the Kremlin confirm.

This is history people. Trump is going to broker an end to the most vicious war of the 21st Century.

The Golden Age may not just be for America; it may be for the… pic.twitter.com/5yae8UpRGn

— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) August 10, 2025

It’s not just NATO that is happy to see the prospects of peace growing every day, but the Ukrainians are as well. Gallup polled Ukrainians, and war weariness is taking its toll on Ukrainian morale. Gallup: Most Ukrainians now favor ending the war with Russia through negotiations, as support for fighting until victory has dropped sharply since the early days of the conflict. Although their hopes for joining NATO and the European Union have faded and approval of U.S. leadership has plummeted, Ukrainians still see the EU, U.K. and U.S. as key to ending the war. Yet, most doubt that will happen anytime soon. More than three years into the war, Ukrainians’ support for continuing to fight until victory has hit a new low. In Gallup’s most recent poll of Ukraine — conducted in early July — 69% say they favor a negotiated end to the war as soon as possible, compared with 24% who support continuing to fight until victory. This marks a nearly complete reversal from public opinion in 2022, when 73% favored Ukraine fighting until victory and 22% preferred that Ukraine seek a negotiated end as soon as possible. (Gallup)

In light of this reality, the Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova endorsed the Alaska summit to be held this Friday. Oksana Markarova on Face the Nation: “Well, that’s something that all Ukraine prays for President Trump to be effective and to have great results. And as you know, since the discussions here with President Trump, Ukraine agreed to full ceasefire, to partial ceasefires, to any type of ceasefires. Because again, let’s remind everyone, Ukraine did not start this war. Putin started this war in 2014, he continued with full fledged invasion in 2022, and it’s Ukrainian citizens, Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian defenders on the front lines, Ukrainian children who suffer every day. So yes, we want Putin to stop, and we really are hopeful that this push from President Trump, and the sanction packages which are on the table, and secondary sanctions which are already implemented against those who help Russia, will convince President Putin that this is time for him to finally stop his aggression. (Face the Nation)

‘Everyone Is Anticipating a Breakthrough’: Russian Stock Market Surges on News of Putin-Trump Alaska Summit

By: TASS, August 11, 2025:

The Russian stock market experienced its strongest rally since February following announcements that Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will hold a summit in Alaska.

The Moscow Exchange index, which tracks around 40 of Russia’s largest companies, has surged 8.3% since Thursday, adding roughly 465 billion rubles ($5.82 billion, according to spot foreign exchange market data published by Reuters) in market capitalization.

On Friday, it climbed to 2,996.4 points, reaching a level not seen since early April.

“The main optimism among traders is driven by the upcoming meeting of the Russian and U.S. presidents on August 15, with investors hoping for progress toward de-escalating the military conflict and potential easing of some sanctions,” said Vladimir Chernov, an analyst at Freedom Finance Global.

Stocks of companies hit hardest by sanctions have led the gains. On Monday, shares of titanium giant VSMPO-AVISMA jumped 10%, steel corporation Severstal rose 4.4% and flag air carrier Aeroflot gained 3.3%.

Gazprom’s shares have soared 16% over the past week, Novatek’s by 18% and Sovcomflot’s by nearly 9%, noted Alexei Antonov, head of investment consulting at Alor Broker.

“Everyone is anticipating a breakthrough in Russia-U.S. relations and the start of resolving the Ukraine conflict,” he added.
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However, the current market euphoria may prove fragile.

Yaroslav Kabakov, strategy director at Finam Investment Company, warned that “if the Alaska summit fails to deliver concrete results, or if the EU and Ukraine publicly criticize the outcome, the market risks a sharp downturn. Stocks that have surged purely on expectations will be especially vulnerable.”

Even in a best-case scenario, Antonov said it could take many months before companies like Gazprom and Novatek resume exporting gas at previous volumes and without steep price discounts.

For non-energy sectors, the situation could be even more precarious. Analysts at IFC Solid pointed out that a positive deal might drive oil prices below $60 per barrel by year-end, putting downward pressure on the shares of oil companies due to weaker commodity prices.