Another assassination attempt has been made against a Russian army general in Moscow. Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy head of Russian military intelligence (GRU) and right-hand man of the chief Russian negotiator in the Abu Dhabi trilateral peace talks, which concluded on Thursday, was shot multiple times. The Kremlin believes this is an attempt by Ukraine to derail the negotiations with the United States. Since the start of the invasion, 19 Russian Armed Forces generals have been killed. This marks the fourth attack against high-ranking military officers in Moscow in just over a year. The victim is hospitalized in serious condition.

Moscow, on May 9th, is a city of major celebration. The streets are decorated with banners commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II, shop windows are filled with red stars and Sant Jordi ribbons—a controversial black and orange ribbon honoring military valor—concerts are held, fireworks are set, and citizens are on fire, and citizens are strolling through the parks.

The United States announced on Tuesday the release of Marc Fogel, a professor who had been detained in Russia for more than three years. The handover of the American citizen was part of an "exchange" with Moscow, according to the White House, which said Fogel, convicted of drug trafficking, had been imprisoned "unjustly." It was Donald Trump himself who welcomed the professor on his return home.