Putin Talks Up Prospect Of Euro, US Contacts As Zelenskyy Addresses EUCO

President Vladimir Putin's marathon press conference/public phone-in continues. While much of the event is not market relevant, there have been some headlines of note related to foreign policy and the war in Ukraine.

• Putin: "We are ready for contacts with European leaders, including French President Macron, if they are interested in it."
• These comments come after Putin claimed earlier that current US policy is "imperialist" but as soon as something changes domestically in the US, this could establish conditions for compromise, but there are no such conditions yet.
• Much of the presser has been focused on domestic issues such as rising food prices, rather than international relations. Several text messages critical of Putin and gov't policy have been displayed on big screens at the event in Moscow, but Putin has not responded.
• Link to livestream here.
• At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the European Council summit by videolink. States that It is 'Very important Europe doesn't fall back into indecision today...People in Europe won't understand if Putin's satisfied smile becomes the reward for a meeting in Brussels...Today is a day for a political decision in response to what we've accomplished. Its about opening accession negotiations with Ukraine...Do not betray the people and their faith in Europe.'