The key indices of the US stock market - Dow Jones, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 - continue to show record growth and have already recouped most of the losses of recent months. There has not been such strong growth in the US stock market for a long time. Even multiple increases in the Fed's key rate do not frighten investors. Nevertheless, there are certain reasons for this behavior of traders. Yesterday, the news went around the whole world that the Ukrainian and Russian negotiating groups had achieved impressive success. Representatives of both groups confirmed this information and briefly outlined the essence of the agreements. Both sides made certain compromises, thanks to which a rapprochement took place. So what did Kyiv and Moscow agree on?
First, the most important thing is Ukraine's refusal to join NATO, the refusal to deploy military bases on the territory of Ukraine. Second, Russia will not prevent Ukraine from joining the European Union. Third, the issue with Crimea is "frozen" for 15 years, during which negotiations will take place. Fourth, the issues of abandoning the development of nuclear weapons and non-entry into NATO will be decided at an all-Ukrainian referendum. Fifth, negotiations on Donbas will continue. From our point of view, all these interim results cannot be called a breakthrough. It is completely unclear what the point "negotiations on Crimea for 15 years" means? It is also not entirely clear what the results of the all-Ukrainian referendum will be. One way or another, military operations continued along the entire front line that night, but there are still reports that the Russian military is starting to withdraw from Chernihiv and Kyiv. From the point of view of world markets, this is the most significant factor. The factor of easing military tension in some regions of Ukraine. At the same time, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said yesterday that the first stage of the special operation in Ukraine was completed successfully, and now the Kremlin is moving to the second stage and relocating its troops to Donbas. Thus, it can be assumed that even if hostilities cease in certain directions, the situation in the Donbas will be very tense for a long time. Most likely, now there will be a war for the restoration of the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Negotiations will have to continue today, and I would like to hope that, firstly, those experts who say that negotiations are a screen are wrong. Recall that there is an opinion that a peace treaty between Kyiv and Moscow is impossible, and any negotiations will be used as pauses for regrouping and relocating troops. Second, it will be possible to achieve clear and concrete decisions on Crimea and Donbas. Anyway, until a peace agreement is signed, it's not worth opening champagne. Nevertheless, there is a weakening of military tension now, which is already good.
