But when four men were arrested after 43 more vehicles were attacked, one confessed they had been recruited online by a mysterious Russian who had given them detailed instructions along with a promise of €100 (£83) for every damaged car.
Yet, German intelligence warns the Kremlin is increasingly using paid proxies to weaken democracies, winkle open divisions, spread disinformation and assist local patsies. The target this time was a party that firmly backs Ukraine on the eve of a critical election for Europe, with alarmingly strong support for pro-Russian parties on both political extremes.
The next day Trump’s Vice President claimed the greatest threat facing our continent came not from Russia and China but “from within” through denial of free speech – before doing his best to boost a local far-right party, classified as extremist by intelligence chiefs, days before the election.
Meanwhil,e their favourite oligarch Elon Musk, running rampage through the federal government, pontificates on free speech while cuddling up to a sinister Communist regime in China that crushes domestic criticism in order to protect his commercial interests.
It is worth noting, incidentally, that Moscow’s advance in the Donbas has slowed down this year with losses reportedly at record levels, while it has failed to recover the captured Kursk region and its economy looks increasingly shaky despite glaring holes in Western sanctions.
Belarus is already in the bag. Georgia is sliding into its arms. Hungary and Slovakia are neutered. Now Washington has ended Putin’s pariah status and threatened the transatlantic Nato alliance while proclaiming to the world that might is right, and corroding Western credibility. We can only imagine the joy he brought the Kremlin.
The model for many in his Maga crowd is Viktor Orbán’s “illiberal democracy” in Hungary – which is stifling media criticism, dismantling institutions and undermining judicial independence while being friendly to Russia. Trump’s choice of Vance was cheered in Moscow; he has resisted aid for Kyiv and said “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine”, calling it “a corrupt nation run by oligarchs” (underlining again the Orwellian nature of our times, given events in Washington).
Andrew Gwynne's messages prove it - politicians are laughing at us
Read MoreCertainly Britain must do everything possible to help find a security deal that protects Ukraine, ensuring surviving regions can try to build a free and prosperous future. Sir Keir Starmer, like other European leaders, has the unenviable task of trying to nudge Trump away from Putin’s manipulation while fending off US tariffs. Anything could still happen, such is his unpredictability.
But while Ukraine’s valour deserves so much better from its allies, Trump has never hidden his demand for Europe to look after its own interests and is right about our urgent need to ramp up spending on defence. There can be no illusions now: these are dangerous times for democracies, threatened by both bullying demagogues and emboldened dictators.
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