Russian rouble strengthens vs dollar ahead of Trump-Putin call

MOSCOW, May 19 (Reuters) - The Russian rouble strengthened against the U.S. dollar on Monday ahead of a planned telephone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about peace in Ukraine.

Trump and Putin are expected to speak later in the day, as European leaders demand that the Kremlin accept an immediate ceasefire to halt the region's deadliest conflict since World War Two.

By 0740 GMT, the rouble RUB= was up 0.5% at 80.60 per U.S. dollar, LSEG data based on over-the-counter quotes showed. The Russian currency has risen more than 40% against the dollar this year.

Analysts have been warning that the Russian currency is near its peak, driven by positive news flow on the prospects of a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, high domestic interest rates and slowing imports.

"On positive geopolitical news, the rouble may strengthen significantly, but only very briefly. However, there is an impression that the rouble is close to the peak," Alor brokerage analysts said in a research note.

Against the Chinese yuan, which Russia's central bank uses for its foreign exchange interventions and is the most-traded foreign currency in Russia, the rouble was up 0.4% at 11.14 per yuan on the Moscow Stock Exchange.