Defense Stocks Surge as Trump Shifts Stance on Ukraine War
U.S. defense stocks rallied following former President Donald Trump's unexpected pivot on the Ukraine conflict, signaling potential increased weapons sales. Lockheed Martin (LMT) ROSE 0.8%, RTX (RTX) gained 1.2%, and Northrop Grumman (NOC) climbed 1.7% in early trading.
Trump's reversal came after meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin failed to yield a peace deal. His Truth Social post suggested strengthened Western support for Kyiv, marking a departure from previous calls for negotiated settlements that might have cemented Russian territorial gains.