Putin spoke with the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Belarus today according to the Kremlin. A statement said Putin discussed the need to end the fighting in Ukraine with his counterparts.

That’s hardly a plea for peace but right when those headlines hit, futures on the S&P 500 climbed 3 points. Yields also ticked higher and gold slipped as the demand for safety diminished.

Earlier, the Kremlin released an executive order banning certain food imports from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia.