Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump are set for Friday in Alaska to discuss ending the Ukraine war. The meeting, the first on U.S. soil since 2007 for Putin, is already seen as a political and economic boost for Russia despite its struggling economy.

BulletsIn

• Meeting in Alaska Friday to discuss ending Ukraine war
• First Putin visit to U.S. since 2007; no Ukraine, no EU invited
• Kyiv fears forced territorial concessions to Moscow
• Ukraine, EU push for Kyiv’s involvement in talks
• Russia gaining ground in southern, eastern Ukraine
• Russian economy under sanctions, 9.4% inflation, fiscal deficit
• Moscow seeks sanctions relief, investment via U.S. ties
• Trump yet to raise sanctions pressure; eyeing Nobel Prize
• Global markets rise on talks news; gold falls 1%
• European defense stocks dip but analysts see long-term gain