Pound Steady Ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting at the White House
The pound sterling (GBP) moved within a narrow range around 1.3550 against the US dollar (USD) during the European trading session on Monday (August 18, 2025). The GBP/USD currency pair remained stable as market participants awaited the outcome of a crucial meeting between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and NATO members at the White House. The meeting aimed to discuss the terms of a ceasefire proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
Earlier on Friday, Trump met with Putin in Alaska and stated that Putin was willing to freeze the front lines as long as Kyiv surrendered the entire Donetsk region, one of Moscow's primary targets. However, President Zelenskyy firmly refused to cede Ukrainian territory to Russia, according to a Reuters report.
Market sentiment generally remained stable ahead of the meeting. S&P 500 futures edged up 0.13% to around 6,460. If the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting produces a peace signal, it could potentially support riskier assets such as stocks and currencies other than the US dollar. However, if no positive outcome is achieved, the impact on the market is expected to be limited, as investors have already anticipated the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Market participants are now awaiting clarity from these high-level political discussions, which could determine the direction of the pound's future movement. Currently, GBP/USD is still consolidating, reflecting investor caution amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. (ayu)
Source: Newsmaker.id
