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5 Things to Know Today: Canada Enters Recession, Oil Slips on Iran Ceasefire Talk

Saturday, May 30, 2026 — Your quick-hit Canadian financial briefing for the day. 1.Canada Officially Meets the Definition of a Technical Recession Statistics Canada confirmed Friday that real GDP contracted 0.1% on an annualized basis in Q1 2026 — following a revised 1.0% drop in Q4 2025 . That's two straight quarters of negative growth, which meets the technical definition of a recession. The miss was a big one: economists had forecast growth of 1.5% . The main culprits were a surge in imports (up 2.9%, largely gold), declining business capital investment (down 0.7% — its fifth consecutive quarterly drop ), and weakness in resource extraction and construction. On a per-capita basis, GDP actually edged up 0.2% as Canada's population shrank for the second quarter in a row. Not everyone is ready to call it a full recession: some economists note that three of the four weak months were isolated, and early April data points to a sharp 0.4% rebound . Still, the numbers ...

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Zelensky Stands Firm Against U.S. Pressure on Territorial Concessions

 


Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Pope Leo XIV wave to journalists during their meeting in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has once again made clear that Ukraine will not cede any territory to Russia, despite mounting pressure from the United States to consider compromises in ongoing peace negotiations. Speaking to reporters, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has “no right to give anything away” under its constitution, international law, or moral principles.

Zelensky’s remarks come at a critical moment as Washington pushes for a peace plan that could involve painful concessions, including territorial losses. The Ukrainian leader, however, has been rallying European allies to support Kyiv’s position. In recent days, he met with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo near Rome and held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, underscoring his diplomatic efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s backing across Europe.

The refusal to cede land highlights Zelensky’s determination to resist both Moscow’s demands and U.S. pressure. He framed the issue not only as a matter of law but also of national dignity, declaring that Ukraine is fighting precisely to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity. His stance has resonated with European leaders, including those in London, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

While the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has sought to broker a peace deal, Zelensky’s firm rejection of territorial concessions signals that Kyiv is unwilling to compromise on its core principles. This position may complicate negotiations but reinforces Ukraine’s commitment to defending its independence against Russian aggression.

In summary, Zelensky’s refusal to yield territory underscores Ukraine’s unwavering stance: sovereignty is non-negotiable, even under intense international pressure.

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