(The opinions expressed here are those of the author.)

By Dhara Ranasinghe

LONDON, August 18 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in

U.S. and global markets by Dhara Ranasinghe, European Financial

Markets Editor

After Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin's

gathering in Alaska, it's now Ukraine President Volodymyr

Zelenskiy and European leaders' turn to meet the U.S. President.

They're all gathering on Monday to map out a peace deal to end

the war in Ukraine.

Unsurprisingly, the response from financial markets to Friday's

Alaska summit has been muted, to say the least. Oil prices

, the euro and Ukraine's bonds are little changed.

* The fear (from Europe) is that Trump could try to pressure

Kyiv into accepting a settlement favourable to Moscow. Zelenskiy

has already all but rejected the outline of Putin's proposals,

including for Ukraine to give up the rest of its eastern Donetsk

region, of which it currently controls a quarter. Analysts

reckon a ceasefire remains some way off, meaning geopolitical

tensions remain a potential headwind to otherwise pretty buoyant

world stock markets.

* Markets will likely be on alert for any sign of deterioration

in Trump's further talks with Putin. Especially those that might

prompt the U.S. president to impose secondary tariffs targeting

Russian energy trading, say with India. In an opinion piece

published in Monday's Financial Times, White House trade adviser

Peter Navarro said India's Russian crude buying was funding

Moscow's war in Ukraine and had to stop.

* Trump's meeting with Zelenskiy in Washington is one key

gathering markets have their eye on this week. The other, the

Federal Reserve's annual central bank conference in Jackson

Hole, Wyoming, takes place later this week. Fed chief Jerome

Powell's speech there on Friday is expected to be his

valedictory speech before his term ends next May.

In Mike Dolan's column today, he looks at what could

disturb the eerily calm credit markets.

Today's Market Minute

* Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders will

meet Donald Trump in Washington on Monday to map out a peace

deal amid fears the U.S. president could try to pressure Kyiv

into accepting a settlement favourable to Moscow.

* India aims to slash taxes on small cars and insurance premiums

as part of a sweeping reform of its goods and services tax

(GST), a government source said on Monday, as Prime Minister

Narendra Modi's plan sparked a rally in stock markets.

* Hong Kong's debt-laden developers and their creditors are set

to face intensifying financial pressure as bond maturities are

slated to jump by nearly 70% next year amid falling sales and

valuations for the city's economically crucial property sector.

* China's refiners lifted their processing rates in July, they

are still likely adding to their stockpiles, which will allow

them to trim imports should prices rise to levels they believe

are not justified by market fundamentals.

* News that Chinese battery giant CATL has suspended operations

at its giant Jianxiawo mine has lit a fire under the lithium

market, writes ROI columnist Andy Home.

Chart of the day

Although stock markets across the globe are at or near world

highs, analysts say a ceasefire scenario is not yet priced in.

So if there was any sign of a movement in that direction, risk

assets - especially European shares - would be in a good

position to rally further.

Today's events to watch

* Zelenskiy meets Trump in Washington

* U.S. bills auction