Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with several US defense contractors this week, including Raytheon, GE, and Lockheed Martin. A few days later, major defense companies raised their full-year profit estimates significantly.

Spokespeople say that tariffs have no impact on demand for the defense industry. Naturally, Ukraine is seeking duty-free defense imports on defense products paid for by other countries.

https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/war/us-defense-contractors-raise-forecasts-after-zelensky-meeting/

Pretty sure Trump will throw his hands up in the air with the whole affair soon, Putin will not give up Donbas , if if does then the Russian citizens there will be cut up and burnt once again, Z man has an open chequebook and his marching orders. Not expecting too much success from the Hungarian chit chat meeting.

 

Trump has canceled plans for a Budapest summit with Putin, saying it would be a “waste of time.” The White House concluded that Russia is still clinging to its maximalist demands, including full control of the Donbas region, rejecting Trump’s proposal to freeze the war along current frontlines. A senior U.S. official said Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call with Lavrov showed that “Russia’s position has remained largely unchanged.” Trump told reporters he’ll announce his updated Ukraine peace plan within 48 hours, insisting the war “will end.” The Kremlin, meanwhile, reiterated that no NATO troops can be part of any peace deal.

https://x.com/i/status/1980817828749234573

BREAKING! Fire at the (Hungarian owned) MOL refinery in Bratislava, a major facility processing Russian oil. It’s the third refinery incident in just two days.