Sept 3 — Russia and Ukraine signaled willingness to advance talks, Chen Yu,
deputy director of the Eurasia Institute at the China Institute of International
Studies, said. He cited three market‑relevant drivers: recent relative stability
in the Middle East has refocused U.S. attention on mediating the conflict, with
U.S. domestic politics — notably the midterm run-up and pressure on Trump to
claim a “peace” achievement — adding impetus; recent high‑intensity fighting has
raised socio‑economic strain in both countries, reducing the marginal benefit of
further large offensives; and both sides can use U.S. mediation to signal
openness to dialogue, buy tactical respite, probe each other’s bottom lines, and
position themselves for subsequent military and diplomatic moves.
