Former top EU diplomat Federica Mogherini detained, the European Parliament cancels Kyiv trip over AfD MEP and the NYC Young Republican Club to honor AfD politician

Last weekend, a Wall Street Journal report revealed more details of the so-called "peace" through submission plan. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk offered a "pithy" assessment: "We know this is not about peace. It's about business."

For those of us who recall the Wild Wild East of the 1990s and are familiar with Anatoly Golitsyn's Perestroika Deception, this had an odd whiff of dejavu brought to you by the same KGB men who allowed the state to fragment only to enrich themselves and resurrect the good ol' days of Stalinism. In 2007, the former and last Director of the Soviet KGB's Counterintelligence Oleg Kalugin told me in an interview for Foreign Policy that Putin had "partially restored the old Stalinist methods" and revived a Stalin-lite system that is "not as bloody but just as criminal as Stalin's regime."

Also this week, US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio was absent at the NATO foreign minister meeting, even as the US envoy Steve Witkoff, a golf buddy of US President Donald Trump, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner found themselves inside the Kremlin, business plan in hand. What's more, the head of the German Bundeswehr Lt. Gen. Christian Freuding told The Atlantic Washington has cut off information sharing with Berlin. The slow realization that Europe might be alone, that "daddy," as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte famously called Trump, is checked out is slowly, sadly sinking in.

From Ukraine, journalist Tim Mak of The Counteroffensive wrote of the "phony peace plan" that while US aid to Ukraine has dropped off a cliff since the middle of this year, both military and humanitarian aid cannot be dangled when there is little on offer beyond intelligence cooperation. Mak correctly assesses, "The real threat to Ukraine is not that America stops supporting Ukraine," as has largely happened under Trump 2.0, but rather, "that the U.S. affirmatively aligns itself with Russian interests worldwide."

Adding insult to injury, we have long read about Russian leader Vladimir Putin daughter's work at a Paris gallery, but a Ukrainian journalist caught up with her Wednesday in video share by Ukrainian state-run United24 media. She is asked to call home to tell daddy to stop attacking Kyiv, if she supports her father's war of aggression, questioned how she could live in "hateful", "cursed" "Gayrope". Her long blond bangs and surgical face mask cannot conceal her eyes so much that one definitively sees the resemblance to daddy. Daughter was not pleased. When asked if she supports her father, she responds like every ordinary Russian apologist: "What does that have to do with me?"

Does "Gayrope" have two daddies or one – in addition to one spoiled Kremlin princess-ling in the heart of the French capital? Will the children show they are capable to stand up to "daddy"?

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BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – Italian former top EU diplomat detained, accused of fraud

The BBC reports Europe's former top diplomat and former foreign minister of Italy Federica Mogherini was detained Tuesday and accused of fraud by the European Public Prosecutor's Office Thursday.
On Tuesday, police searched the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium as well as the office she formerly led from 2014 until 2019, the EU's External Action Service in Brussels, over a ballooning investigation into "EU-funded training for junior diplomats". A senior College of Europe staffer and a senior official at the European Commission were also detained. Formally, the three are accused of "procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy." All three were released as they are not considered flight risks while their homes were also searched.
On Thursday, Mogherini resigned as rector of the College of Europe, Politico reports.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – European Parliament Kyiv visit canceled due to AfD security risk

Politico reports Wednesday that a European Parliament delegation due to travel to Ukraine was called off after Kyiv expressed security concerns over the inclusion of Hans Neuhoff, a German far-right Alternativ für Deutschland (AfD) politician.
The European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defense was scheduled to travel Monday, but Ukrainian officials felt Neuhoff's inclusion presented an unacceptable security risk to the country. Neuhoff told Politico that "his trip had been called off due to Ukraine's objections." Just last month, Neuhoff had traveled to Sochi and has mirrored Russian talking points in the past regarding the "root causes" of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as well as stating Ukraine should be prevented from joining NATO.
Kyiv contacted Parliament President Roberta Metsola regarding their concerns and intention to deny Neuhoff entry. Metsola's office then contacted the committee secretary who in turn notified Neuhoff.

NEW YORK CITY – New York Young Republican Club will honor an AfD leader

Politico reports Wednesday that the New York Young Republican Club announced that it "will honor" Markus Frohmaier, the deputy chair of the AfD parliamentary group, at its annual gala on December 13.
In August, the New York Young Republican Club put out a statement endorsing AfD and declared in bold at the end "AfD über alles," in what can only be called a not subtle "adaptation of a phrase associated with the Nazi party." The New York Young Republican Club denied the rather obvious "statement was intended to evoke Nazism" and said AfD presented "a model for fighting the far left".
"The New York City club has long been at odds with the now-defunct New York State Young Republicans," the leaders of whom figured prominently in a leak this fall to Politico of racist, antisemitic and misogynist group chats, which led to the state party disbanding its state-level youth wing.

BERLIN, GERMANY – Bundeswehr chief says Pentagon cut off intelligence sharing

The Atlantic reports Monday the head of the Bundeswehr Lt. Gen. Christian Freuding said the US has cut off intelligence sharing with German counterparts.
Whereas he had once been able to text US defense officials "day and night," now communication with Washington was "cut off, really cut off." For information about US defense policy, Freuding has been forced to turn to the German Embassy in Washington where, he said, "there is somebody who tries to find somebody in the Pentagon."
Given Russian sights are focused firmly on conquest, Freuding told The Atlantic, "You not only have an enemy knocking at the door," but worse, "you also are in the process of losing a true ally and friend."

HOLZDORF, GERMANY – Israeli missile defense system deployed in Europe for first time

The Jerusalem Post and Reuters report Germany "became the first European nation to deploy the Arrow air defence system" Wednesday, an event which "also represents the end of Germany's temporary weapon sales ban on Israel."
Israel Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram participated "in the official unveiling of the Israeli-supplied Arrow 3 missile defense system", according to The Jerusalem Post. The deal, worth $3.6 billion (€3.1 billion) comes "as Berlin continues to buy weapons from Israel," removing "a temporary, albeit lengthy" ban on sales due to the Jewish state's conduct in Gaza during the two year-long Israel-Hamas War.
The deal was inked in 2023, however "the strength of the deal was boosted in triplicate" due to "the system's stellar performance in 2024 and again in 2025." Of note, "On April 13 and 14," of this year, "the Arrow was instrumental in shooting down the vast majority of the 120 ballistic missiles that Iran fired at Israel" and shot down "a high percentage of Iranian missiles during the 12-Day War with the Islamic Republic" in June. However, "On October 1, the Arrow did not shoot down as high a percentage of the 180 Iranian ballistic missiles fired".

BURG, GERMANY – Thousands of ammo rounds for the army stolen from delivery truck

Deutsche Welle reports Tuesday that thousands of rounds of ammunition were reportedly stolen from a delivery truck headed to barracks in the eastern German town of Burg on November 25.
The driver reportedly parked the delivery truck in an insecure location while he made an unplanned stop and spent the night at a hotel in Burg. The next morning, when he arrived at the barracks "it became clear some of the ammunition was missing."
In total, 10,000 rounds of live ammunition and 9,900 rounds of training ammunition for assault rifles was lost or stolen. The case remains under investigation by the Bundeswehr and the local police who fear the ammunition could end up in the wrong hands. The Bundeswehr does not believe that it was "a random robbery".

BERLIN, GERMANY – Germany announces new counter-drone police unit

Politico reports Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced Tuesday "a new federal counter-drone unit" which will address "a surge of suspicious drones overflying military sites and critical infrastructure".
The new counter-drone unit will formally be part of the federal police's national special operations idivison and is expected to employ 130 officers. The aim of the unit is to deploy "quickly to hot spots" across Germany "when needed."
Germany has budgeted €100 million ($117 million) for counter-drone technology. Systems will be procured from German and Israeli defense manufacturers.

KARLSRUHE, GERMANY – Ukrainian Nord Stream2 suspect in custody in Germany

The AP reports last Friday that Serhii Kuznietsov, 49, suspected of involvement in the September 2022 blast that blew up the Nord Stream2 pipeline under the Baltic Sea, has been placed in custody in Germany following his extradition from Italy where he was apprehended last August.
A Federal Court of Justice judge in Karlsruhe issued the arrest warrant last Friday, one day after his extradition from Italy, as "German prosecutors said Kuznietsov was one of a group of people who placed explosives on the pipelines and is believed to have been the coordinator." He is "suspected of causing explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage and the destruction of structures." Kuznietsov denies involvement and said he was serving as an army captain in Ukraine when the blast occurred.
It is believe the team that blew up the Nord Stream2 pipeline "used a yacht that set off from the German port of Rostock," on the Baltic. The team allegedly used fake IDs and intermediaries to rent the boat from a German company. A Polish court previously blocked the extradition to Germany of another alleged accomplice.

GIESSEN, GERMANY – Thousands protest against far-right AfD and its new youth wing

The AP reports last Saturday "thousands of protesters converged" on the western German city of Giessen where the far-right AfD held its party congress and set up a new youth wing of the party, Generation Deutschland, after a previous effort was disbanded due to a court ruling citing its extremist ties.
The party congress was nearly two hours late getting started due to roads being blocked by the demonstrators, who at times clashed with police and countered stones being thrown at them with pepper spray "at one location" while water canons were used against an estimate 2,000 protesters who ignored demands to disperse. Water canons were used a second time later in the day when "a group tried to break through barriers towards the city's convention center." Police placed crowd estimates at 25,000 with 6,000 officers deployed and reported the protests were largely peaceful.
Party co-chair Alice Weidel called the "dear left-wingers, dear extremists" who turned out to protest AfD "deeply undemocratic" and added one AfD lawmaker had been attacked. Police said one lawmaker had been injured near Giessen without providing details. Generation Deutschland's predecessor, Junge Alternativ, "was dissolved at the end of March after AfD decided to formally cut ties with it" after "Germany's domestic intelligence agency had concluded that the Young Alternative was a proven right-wing extremist group."

GIESSEN, GERMANY – 'Generation Deutschland' kicks off with imitation of Hitler

The Jerusalem Post reports Sunday that the far-right AfD "opened an inquiry" after youth activist Alexander Eichwald "delivered a speech said to mirror the rhetoric of former Nazi leader Adolf Hitler".
At the founding meeting of the new AfD youth wing Generation Deutschland, after the previous one was disbanded due to links to extremists, Eichwald discussed "love and loyalty to Germany," as well as "how animals have breeds," and "foreign influences" on Germany. While this might be far-right and neo-Nazi bread and butter, AfD has to walk the line between the xenophobe next door and the extremist who can smash the constitutional order as many Germans struggle to distinguish between the two, seeing a slippery slope in a backwards direction of the country's totalitarian and genocidal past.
Eichwald blamed his Russian origins for how he "rolled letters in a way compared to Hitler." "Some participants speculated that his appearance was part of a comedic stunt" because Germans, Hitler, funny, funny stuff if you ignore the human consequences or simply do not care – just see the film "Look Who's Back" from a little over a decade ago. Eichwald had previously appeared online under the name "Alex Oak" as a musician and artist in since scrubbed social media profiles and appears to have only joined AfD in October. In any event, someone heard "new blood" and "remigration" and went old school master race.

BERLIN, GERMANY – Business association loses members over shift in position on AfD

The Financial Times reports the Association of Family Businesses, "which represents around 6,500 of Germany's small and medium-sized companies known as the Mittelstand," lost some members including the drugstore chain Rossman and hipster cola brand Fritz Kola after it invited the AfD to a networking event in Berlin in October which "unleashed a storm in corporate circles".
AfD "has called for the mass deportations of migrants, a lifting of sanctions on Moscow and for the country's exit from the euro." In engaging with the AfD, the Association of Family Businesses "broke a long-standing taboo in German politics" and "stirred up anger and concern that some in the business world want to open the door to the far right". In doing so, "a chink" has been created "in the so-called 'firewall' aimed at depriving them of legitimacy and keeping them from power."
So much for "never again": one member of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's own party, the Christian Democrats (CDU), told The Financial Times he places the blame with Merz who came into office with "such big expectations" but notes "these reforms aren't coming."

ROME, ITALY – Italy bows out of NATO program to buy US weapons for Ukraine

Bloomberg reports Wednesday that Italy has changed its mind about joining NATO's Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) which involves purchasing American-made weapons for Ukraine.
Previously, the Italian government had expressed support for the program but now asserts that weapons should not be transferred to Ukraine while so-called peace talks towards a cease fire are underway, even if weapons would give Ukraine the edge it needs to enter such talks on strong terms and Russia rejected the latest terms after meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin Tuesday.
Italy is now at odds with Kyiv and NATO as the country becomes the first to openly question the PURL program. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government has come under pressure for arms expenditures in the next budget (see next item).

ROME, ITALY – Focus of third general strike shifts from Palestine to anti-NATO sentiment

The far-left and Russia-aligned World Socialist Website reports a general strike last Friday "followed by mass protests on November 29 coinciding with the International Day of Solidarity with Palestine," marked the country's third general strike "in as many months".
What's more is the focus is now on "Italy's role in NATO's global war plans," according to the World Socialist Website, which explained, "The proposed 2026 budget law, the 'Manovra 2026,' provided the immediate trigger". According to the hard left publication, "Workers see austerity and militarism as two sides of the same policy".
Italy's mainstream media attention, though, was largely on pro-Palestine events the next day, encouraged by "UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, climate activist Greta Thunberg, and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila of the Global Sumud Flotilla". An attack on the newsroom of newspaper La Stampa "by individuals identified as pro-Palestinian demonstrators" dominated media outrage or "manufactured political furor", in the words of the World Socialist Website, which focused on Albanese calling for a "refocus on facts" in light of the attack on La Stampa and suggested that "state provocateurs" may have been behind the attack instead. By contrast, Israel's Ynet reports, "Italy turns on UN's Francesca Albanese", noting she "faces a backlash at home after appearing to justify a pro-Palestinian mobs attack on a major newsroom," for condemning the violence and "in the same breath" warning "what happened is a message to journalists, that they need to start doing their job."

VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Austria finalizes procurement of 12 Leonardo fighter jets with Italy

Jane's Defence Weekly reports Austria has finalized plans last Saturday to acquire 12 Leonardo M-346FA (fighter attack) light strike combat and advanced trainer aircraft.
The €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) deal was confirmed by the Defense Ministry spokesman. There is also an option for 12 more aircraft in the package which includes financing for "industrial offsets."
The aircraft will replace the aging Saab 105s in the airforce fleet.

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Credit Suisse compliance officer indicted over Mozambique case

Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reports a former compliance officer at the now defunct Credit Suisse was indicted Monday by Switzerland's Office of the Attorney General over "organizational failures that allegedly enabled the transfer of funds tied to the Mozambique Debt Scandal".
The indictment involves $2 billion in loans granted by Credit Suisse in 2013 to three Mozambique state-owned firms. The transactions later triggered an international scandal. Switzerland's Office of the Attorney General said that in 2016, $7.86 million (€6.74 million or 6.29 million Swiss francs) held in accounts at Credit Suisse was sent by the Mozambique Ministry of Economy and Finance to "a foreign firm suspected of involvement in the scandal." The funds are believed to be "derived from a 'running fee' obtained through corruption and misconduct in Mozambique" and were sent to the United Arab Emirates.
The indictment relays that the indicted former compliance officer recommended terminating the relationship with the client rather than reporting the suspicious transaction to Switzerland's Money Laundering Reporting Office. Credit Suisse was taken over by UBS which has also been charged "under corporate criminal liability provisions for failing to prevent the alleged offense."

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Parliament permits re-export of weapons to countries in conflict

Swissinfo reports the both chambers of the Swiss Parliament agreed to ease restrictions on the re-export of Swiss weapons to countries in conflict after Germany and other countries cried foul over the prohibition on transferring Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine, a nation engaged in its own self-defense.
Previously, Switzerland had blocked such transfers citing its strict neutrality even as Switzerland agreed to the implementation of EU sanctions against Russia.
Of course, this is not without controversy as the Swiss have mountains, feelings and have internalized the outcome of the Congress of Vienna that rendered Switzerland neutral as some sort of core feature of the national identity. Ergo, "The left has already announced a referendum." Also, Reuters notes, "Direct export of weapons to Ukraine will remain prohibited" so Switzerland will continue to do nothing for the security of Europe in this sense while continuing to benefit – for now – from the US nuclear security blanket given its location in the middle of Europe.

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Senate votes against soldiers taking ammo home

Swissinfo reports Wednesday the Swiss Senate voted against "allowing soldiers to take so-called 'pocket' amounts of ammunition home with them" during the winter parliamentary session.
Those voting in the majority said permitting soldiers to bring ammunition home "could wipe out progress made in recent years in preventing suicides and femicides by firearms." The vote however contradicts the recommendation of a Senate committee which believed the measure would strengthen security "in the event of mobilisation and more generally the defence capability of the army".
The change against allowing soldiers to take home small amounts of ammunition dates to 2007. The effort to rescind that decision is due to "the current threat situation".

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Swiss voters vote no to mandatory national service for women

CNN reports Sunday that a referendum that called for "women to do national service in the military, civil protection teams or other forms" failed "decisively".
More than half of the Swiss cantons rejected the proposed "citizen service initiative". For a referendum to pass, a majority of both voters and cantons is required.
Supporters of the referendum had hoped it would increase "social cohesion" as well as create jobs in sectors such as "environmental protection, food security and elderly care." Lawmakers stood in opposition to pulling so many young people from the workforce.

GENEVA & ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – 13 more injured Gaza children arrive for treatment

Swissinfo reports 13 additional injured children from Gaza arrived in Geneva and Zurich last Friday for medical treatment along with 51 others "accompanying the minors".
All the children had been previously evacuated to Jordan where there condition was stabliized and they were "prepared for onward transport". All individuals "underwent a comprehensive security check by Swiss and Israeli authorities" prior to arriving in Switzerland, the State Secretariat for Migration said.
The children will be treated in hospitals across Switzerland, including in Basel, Fribourg, Geneva, Graubünden, Jura, Ticino, Valais and Vaud. In late Octobe, Zurich rejected a proposal to accept children injured in the nearly two-year long war, citing security concerns, Swissinfo reports.

PARIS, FRANCE – Fourth Louvre heist suspect in custody

The AP reports last Friday that a man arrested earlier in the week "is thought to be the fourth member of the team" responsible for the October heist at the Louvre museum of valuable jewels.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the 39-year-old suspect had a criminal record with six previous convictions and was given a two-month suspended sentence in 2010 for receiving stolen goods. He now faces a possible 15 years in prison for robbery by an organized gang and an additional 10 years for criminal conspiracy.
The "robbery gang" believed to be responsible for the €88 million ($102 million) heist involved a four-person team. The stolen jewels have not been recovered.

NANTERRE, FRANCE – Student sentenced for defacing tomb of late Jewish minister

The Times of Israel reports Wednesday a court in Nanterre, France sentenced an "engineering student from a prestigious graduate school" to a one year suspended sentence for defacing the tomb of Robert Badinter, "a former French justice minister and Holocaust survivor who ended the death penalty in France in 1981" in October.
The incident occurred hours before Badinter "was to symbolically enter the country's Pantheon mausoleum of outstanding historical figures."
French President Emmanuel Macron reacted to the incident "immediately" on X, writing, "Shame on those who wanted to sully his memory."

ŠENTILJ, SLOVENIA – Beauty influencer found dead in suitcase; ex confesses to murder

The Daily Mail reports last Saturday that Austrian beauty influencer Stefanie Pieper who had been missing for a week and was last seen at a holiday party in her native Graz, Austria, was found dead in a suitcase in the Slovenian woods after her ex-boyfriend confessed to her murder and led authorities to her body.
The ex, a security guard and failed poker player, has been transferred from Slovenia to Austria while both his brother and stepfather have also been detained "as the investigation widens." The ex-boyfriend was located and taken into custody a week ago last Monday near a vehicle ablaze near Mond Casino in Šentilj after authorities learned he had crossed the Austria-Slovenia border numerous times.
Pieper had failed to materialize at a planned photo shoot the same day, prompting immediate concern; she was last seen the day before stepping out of a taxi with a friend outside her home in Graz.

And finally….

BOUZY, FRANCE – Escargot farm 'with Michelin clientele' robbed of $100,000 of snails

CNN reports last Friday that a snail farm in Bouzy, northeastern France "with Michelin clientele" was robbed earlier last week of $100,000 worth of snails, according to French media reports.
In a post on Facebook, L'Escargot Des Grands Crus wrote, "We were victims of a burglary and our stock of fresh and frozen snails was stolen." The family business "breeds around 350,000 snails annually".
Thieves cut the fence around the property, entering the farm "undetected" and subsequently "broke into the buildings housing the snails" before making off with 450 kilos (990 pounds). Sixty percent of revenue for the farm is made during the holiday season and now the farm must attempt to "replenish its stocks before Christmas and New Year's Eve".Graciously, "Other snail farmers have stepped in" and sold L'Escargot Des Grands Crus some of their stocks "at reduced prices" so as to not completely lose out on holiday revenue.

Stay safe and be concerned, the new US national security strategy just landed with a thud!

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