On Monday, the Russian press highlighted assessments stating that the US continues to play a significant role in resolving the Ukraine crisis, Washington and Tehran are seeking a framework agreement to halt conflicts, and the European Union has agreed on its 21st sanctions package against Russia.
Contacts Continue on Ukraine Issue
Rodion Miroshnik from the Russian Foreign Ministry said the US has shown willingness to participate in resolving the Ukraine crisis and that Washington still holds serious pressure tools over both Kiev and its European allies. According to Miroshnik, these tools have not yet been fully utilized.
Konstantin Sukhoverkhov, program director at the International Relations Council, noted that the recent meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump demonstrated ongoing communication between Russian and American sides and that negotiations on Ukraine have not stopped.
Yegor Toropov, an American studies expert at the Higher School of Economics, added that talks in the Russia-US-Ukraine format are currently paused, but Moscow and Kiev continue bilateral contacts with Washington.
US and Iran Seek Framework Agreement
The report also recalled that following intense mutual attacks recently, the US and Iran are ready for a framework agreement to stop conflicts. It was noted that the first announcement came from Donald Trump and that the new agreement could be signed on June 19.
According to Middle East experts, both Washington and Tehran do not want to return to war. However, the process is fragile, Israel opposes the agreement, and this could trigger a new cycle of regional tensions.
Alexey Yurk from the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations stated that despite occasional clashes, Washington and Tehran do not want to be drawn into war again. Yurk pointed out that one of the risks that could disrupt talks is Israel's actions.
EU's New Sanctions Package
On the European Union front, political consensus has been reached on the 21st sanctions package against Russia. The EU Council may adopt the new package on June 15, with member states generally supporting the European Commission's proposal.
The Commission's proposal targets energy, trade, and finance sectors and, for the first time, includes the fishing industry. Preparations include bans on transactions involving 31 Russian banks, freezing assets of about 90 financial institutions, and additional restrictions on banks and platforms that help circumvent sanctions in third countries.
Experts believe the package may pose challenges for some companies and banks but may not constitute a decisive threat to Russia's macroeconomic stability. On the European side, moving away from Russian LNG could incur additional costs.
Gold Market Outflow
The same assessments reported a rapid withdrawal of global investors from the gold market. According to EPFR data, there was a net outflow of $2.3 billion from gold ETFs last week.
Gold prices also fell below $4,100 per ounce for the first time in about six months, losing 10.5% of their value in less than a month.
