Ukraine corruption probe, EU-Russia assets standoff, Orbán-Putin energy talks, Africa’s forests...

Ukraine's anti-corruption authorities have launched raids on properties linked to Andriy Yermak, President Zelenskyy's influential chief of staff and lead negotiator in peace talks with Russia. The Financial Times, The Guardian, Politico Europe, The NY Times, and bostonglobe.com report that the searches, tied to a $100 million energy sector graft scandal, come at a critical juncture as Kyiv seeks continued Western support and faces a potentially unfavorable peace deal. The scandal is the most damaging of Zelenskyy's presidency, risking both domestic political stability and international confidence in Ukraine’s leadership. Yermak has stated he is cooperating fully, but the case could disrupt ongoing U.S.-led negotiations with Russia and further strain Ukraine's already fragile political landscape. Politico Europe The NY Times bostonglobe.com The Guardian Financial Times

Politico Europe provides a stark assessment of Ukraine’s current predicament: the country is under severe military, economic, and political pressure, with Western allies divided over war aims and resources. The latest U.S. peace proposals have sown confusion, reportedly drawing on Russian suggestions, and offer Kyiv only weak security guarantees while excluding NATO membership and leaving significant territory in Russian hands. Internally, Ukraine faces a battered energy infrastructure, exhausted finances, and a major corruption scandal, all of which threaten to erode morale and stability. The analysis warns that without decisive Western action, Ukraine risks a suboptimal, potentially destabilizing settlement that may embolden autocratic regimes globally. Politico Europe

Efforts to utilize €140 billion in frozen Russian assets held in Brussels as a reparations loan for Ukraine have hit a wall, with Belgium—under Prime Minister Bart De Wever—staunchly opposed. Politico Europe details how EU partners are frustrated by Belgium’s lack of transparency regarding tax income from these assets, which is supposed to support Ukraine but is allegedly folded into the national budget. While Belgium insists the funds are earmarked for Kyiv, skepticism remains among EU diplomats, threatening unity ahead of a critical December summit. Politico Europe

In a strongly-worded letter, Belgian PM Bart De Wever has escalated his opposition to the EU plan to lend Ukraine funds backed by Russian reserves, arguing that such a move could jeopardize future peace negotiations and expose EU taxpayers to financial risk if Russia ultimately reclaims the assets. According to Politico Europe, De Wever instead advocates for joint EU debt issuance, a position unpopular with most member states. The standoff highlights deep divisions within the bloc over both Ukraine policy and fiscal risk-sharing. Politico Europe

A Politico Europe podcast dissects the EU's diminished influence in Ukraine’s fate, as Washington and Moscow take the lead in back-channel peace proposals. The program explores how delays in leveraging frozen Russian assets—exacerbated by Belgium’s veto—undermine Europe’s leverage at a decisive moment. The internal EU dispute over asset management is cast as a crucial missed opportunity to assert European agency on Ukraine’s future and security. Politico Europe

While the rest of the EU seeks to curb Russian energy imports, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán traveled to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin, focusing on securing continued supplies of cheap Russian oil and gas. As reported by bostonglobe.com and The Guardian, Hungary remains a key outlier within the EU, both in its energy policy and its approach to Russia, having also secured a U.S. sanctions exemption for Russian energy firms earlier this month. Orbán’s move underscores persistent divisions within the EU over relations with Moscow and the bloc’s broader energy strategy. bostonglobe.com The Guardian

Politico Europe reports progress in long-stalled negotiations for UK participation in the EU’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defense procurement program. As a deadline looms, both sides are considering a “pay as you go” entry model to resolve disputes over the UK’s financial contribution. The outcome may determine whether the UK is included before EU member states finalize their defense spending plans, a step seen as vital for European security autonomy in the face of Russian aggression. Politico Europe

The New Democratic Party (NDP) has achieved a landslide victory in St Vincent and the Grenadines, winning 14 out of 15 parliamentary seats and ending the Unity Labour Party’s 24-year rule. The Guardian notes that the result marks a major political shift in the Caribbean, demonstrating the electorate’s appetite for change after decades of single-party dominance. The Guardian

Politico Europe covers the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s strategic move to rebrand its youth wing, Generation Germany, in an effort to shed its extremist image and shield itself from potential bans under Germany’s stringent surveillance laws. Experts caution that the move is largely cosmetic, with the new organization retaining much of the previous group’s ideology, raising questions about the future direction and mainstreaming of the AfD. Politico Europe

A major study highlighted by The Guardian reveals that Africa’s forests have shifted from being a carbon sink to a carbon source since 2010. This alarming trend means that all three of the world’s major rainforest regions—Amazon, Southeast Asia, and Africa—now contribute to global carbon emissions, intensifying the urgency for conservation and climate action. The finding underscores the planet-wide challenges in mitigating climate breakdown. The Guardian (Environnment) The Guardian