US to probe Russian funding of EU parties

AMERICAN intelligence agencies are to conduct a major investigation into how the Kremlin is infiltrating political parties in Europe, it can be revealed.

James Clapper, the US head of national intelligence, has been instructed by Congress to conduct a major review of clandestine Russian funding of European parties over the past decade.

The review reflects mounting concerns in Washington over Moscow’s determination to exploit European disunity to undermine Nato, block US missile defence programmes and revoke punitive economic sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea.

The US move came as senior British government officials told The Sunday

Telegraph of growing fears that “a new Cold War” was unfolding in Europe, with Russian meddling taking on a breadth, range and depth far greater than previously thought.

“It really is a new Cold War out there,” the source said. “Right across the EU we are seeing alarming evidence of Russian efforts to unpick the fabric of European unity on a whole range of vital strategic issues.”

A dossier of “Russian influence activity” seen by The Sunday Telegraph identified operations in France, Hungary and the Netherlands, as well as Austria and the Czech Republic.

The US review will examine whether Russian security services are funding parties and charities to “undermine political cohesion”, foster agitation against Nato’s missile defence programme and undermine attempts to find alternatives to Russian energy.

The probe is thought to be likely to cover far-Right groups including France’s Front National, which received a €9million (£6.9million) loan from a Russian bank in 2014.

Russia’s desire to influence politics in Britain is also rising, sources said, as the Kremlin eyes the forthcoming EU referendum and the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader as potential opportunities to weaken Europe.

Relations between London and Moscow are likely to chill further this week with the publication of a public inquiry into the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

£6.9m The size of a loan in 2014 from a Russian bank to the far-Right Front National party in France