Russian Stocks Open Flat Amid Putin Remarks, Oil Drop, New US Sanctions

Moscow Exchange opened with minor index changes, consolidating as investors weigh Putin's statements on Ukraine, Brent falling to $102, and fresh US sanctions on the A7 payment network. The market is absorbing multiple cross-currents with no clear directional move yet. Significance lies in the interplay of geopolitical rhetoric, energy prices, and sanctions pressure on Russian assets.