Kitco News) – Gold and silver prices are sharply lower in early U.S. trading Friday, on recent breaking news that Russia may be willing to sit down and talk, namely with China, on de-escalating the Russia-Ukraine war that began this week. 
The situation is still very fluid, but the metals markets will likely continue reacting to the latest news headlines on the matter. Gold hit a 1.5-year high and silver a seven-month high on Thursday. April gold futures were last down $29.60 at $1,896.80 and March Comex silver was last down $0.517 at $24.165 an ounce.
The Russia-Ukraine war continues on the front burner of the marketplace to end the trading week. There is still risk aversion in the marketplace. However, it can be argued that marketplace anxiety is not as high as it was early Thursday, amid the reports Russia may negotiate. Also, U.S. and western country sanctions against Russia are being deemed not as severe as expected, including no sanctions on Russian crude oil or natural gas industries. Also, President Biden reiterated Thursday that the U.S. has no plans to get the world’s most powerful military involved in the Russia-Ukraine war. In other words, the major economies of the world will stand by and watch the war unfold, with the likely outcome a complete Russian takeover of Ukraine. As the marketplace continues to digest this matter, a main worry remains a mistake made by either Russia or NATO that would suck the West into the conflagration.
The bottom line: Sleepy Joe’s mouth is a holster for Vlad’s six shooter. Why do we say this? Joe gave Vlad the Go-ahead, where Trump would not. Secondly, China has entered the picture as an honest broker. Do you believe this? China, believing that Sleepy Joe would not have a choice regarding the Taiwan issue, therefore in order to show his muscle Sleepy Joe would need to reinforce America’s backing of Taiwan. That’s what China is afraid of. So they have no choice but to step in to calm the waters.
There is no way out for Sleepy Joe, Russia, now China has brought Branden to his knees.
https://www.kitco.com/news/video/show/Market-Analysis/3877/2022-02-24/What-is-Putins-real-goal-Global-economy-at-risk-Bitcoin-has-bottomed-says-Alex-Mashinsky#_48_INSTANCE_puYLh9Vd66QY_=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kitco.com%2Fnews%2Fvideo%2Flatest%3Fshow%3DMarket-Analysis