FT News Briefing Key week for Russia-Ukraine peace talks
85 snips
Dec 1, 2025 
Ben Hall, Europe editor at the Financial Times, shares insights into the critical Russia-Ukraine peace discussions, highlighting the impact of U.S. engagement and internal pressures on Zelensky. He discusses the stalled negotiations and security guarantees. Joshua Franklin, the U.S. banking editor, explains the surprising resurgence of voice trading in the U.S. Treasury market, detailing why it's preferable for complex trades despite the overarching shift towards electronic trading. Intrigue and finance collide in this compelling conversation!
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AI Is Reshaping Consultancy Hiring
- Top consultancies have frozen starting salaries for three years as they plan AI-driven productivity gains.
- Firms expect AI to change hiring needs, favouring mid-career specialists over mass graduate intakes.
Territory And Guarantees Are The Core Rift
- Russia and Ukraine remain far apart because Moscow insists on seizing more Donbass territory while Kyiv refuses to cede held land.
- Security guarantees and exclusion from NATO are central unresolved issues that could make or break any deal.
US Mediation Could Tilt Negotiations
- The US role will be pivotal in reconciling positions by presenting what it deems reasonable to Moscow.
- Steve Witkoff's alignment with Russian demands raises concerns that US proposals may shift toward Moscow.