Russian Stocks Rise 0.5% on Trump Ukraine Comments; Brent at $105 Caps Gains

Russian equities opened Friday with a 0.5% gain, buoyed by US President Trump's statements on the Ukraine conflict, which markets interpret as potentially de-escalatory. However, gains are limited by Brent crude trading at $105 per barrel, a restraining factor for the energy-heavy index. The development signals market sensitivity to geopolitical rhetoric, but the magnitude of any policy shift remains uncertain.