俄乌今日开启第二轮直接谈判！和谈框架仍大相径庭

Group 1 - The second round of direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials is set to take place in Istanbul, Turkey, but significant differences remain regarding the path to end the conflict, with ongoing escalations in fighting [1] - Ukrainian President Zelensky announced that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will meet with Russian officials, while the Russian delegation will be led by presidential advisor Vladimir Medinsky [1] - The first round of negotiations led to the largest prisoner exchange in the conflict, but no signs of peace or ceasefire have emerged, with both sides only stating their preliminary positions [1] Group 2 - The proposal for direct negotiations was initially put forward by Russian President Putin, who indicated that Russia would draft a memorandum outlining potential peace agreement outlines before discussing ceasefire [2] - Ukraine is awaiting the Russian draft memorandum, while reports suggest that Putin's conditions for ending the conflict include a written commitment from Western leaders to halt NATO's eastward expansion and lift some sanctions on Russia [2] - The Ukrainian roadmap for peace includes a comprehensive ceasefire for at least 30 days, the release of all prisoners, and a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, with the involvement of the US and Europe [2] Group 3 - The conditions outlined by Ukraine differ significantly from Russia's recent public demands, indicating a substantial gap in positions after three years of conflict [3] - The US is expected to participate in the negotiations, along with representatives from the UK, France, and Germany, although the level of US representation remains unclear [3] Group 4 - The US Senate is anticipated to push for a new sanctions bill against Russia, which would impose a 500% import tariff on countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products [5] - At least 82 US senators are reportedly prepared to support this sanctions bill, with optimism expressed regarding its passage before the summer recess [5] - Senator Lindsey Graham indicated that the upcoming talks in Istanbul are unlikely to yield progress, suggesting that Russia is not genuinely interested in peace [5]