Group 1 - Ukrainian President Zelensky announced preparations for a "thousand-for-thousand" prisoner exchange plan and is currently verifying related information [2][4] - Zelensky emphasized that Russia has not signaled any intention to cease hostilities and is not ready to end the conflict, thus calling for increased sanctions against Russia [4][6] - Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that Russia will not agree to a ceasefire followed by negotiations, indicating a firm stance against such proposals [4][5] Group 2 - European leaders, including those from Germany and Italy, have called for European involvement in negotiations regarding the Ukraine conflict during discussions with former US President Trump [5][6] - Trump mentioned that Putin agreed to initiate direct ceasefire negotiations, but European leaders expressed concerns about the feasibility of a 30-day ceasefire as a precursor to peace talks [6] - The EU has implemented its 17th round of sanctions against Russia, targeting nearly 200 vessels of what are termed "shadow fleets," with plans for further sanctions as the conflict persists [6][7] Group 3 - On May 21, Russian military operations continued, with reports of intercepting multiple Ukrainian drones and targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure [7] - Ukrainian forces claimed to have attacked a semiconductor equipment factory in Russia's Oryol region, while Russian forces reported strikes on Ukrainian training camps and military assets [7] - The situation remains tense, particularly in the Donetsk region, with ongoing battles reported in various areas [4][7]

Core Viewpoint - The Latvian Foreign Minister, Edgars Rinkēvičs, stated that the European Union has clear ideas regarding potential further sanctions against Russia [1] Group 1 - The EU is considering additional sanctions on Russia in response to ongoing geopolitical tensions [1] - The Latvian government is actively participating in discussions about these sanctions within the EU framework [1] - The emphasis is on a unified approach among EU member states regarding the sanctions strategy [1]

Core Viewpoint - The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU is prepared to impose stricter sanctions if Russia violates any ceasefire agreements [1] Group 1 - The EU is closely monitoring the situation regarding ceasefire agreements with Russia [1] - Stricter sanctions are being considered as a response to potential violations by Russia [1]