FirstFT: Ukraine accuses Germany of “blocking” NATO arms supply

Ukraine’s new defense minister blamed Germany for blocking the supply of arms to Kiev via NATO, despite US warnings of a possible imminent invasion by Russian forces.

Oleksii Reznikov told the Financial Times that over the past month Berlin had vetoed Ukraine’s purchase of anti-drone rifles and anti-sniper systems through the Support Agency and d NATO supply. However, Germany had since relented on the first element after ruling it non-lethal.

“They are still building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and at the same time blocking our defensive weapons. It’s very unfair, ”said Reznikov, referring to the Russian gas pipeline, which crosses the Baltic Sea to Germany and bypasses existing supply routes through Ukraine.

Kiev has struggled to fill gaps in its military capabilities with allies reluctant to supply weapons that could be seen as a provocation – even a pretext for escalation – by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine is urgently seeking to acquire anti-missile and anti-aircraft systems, electronic warfare kits and cyber defense equipment.

Thanks for reading FirstFT Asia. Here is the rest of today’s news – Emily

Five other articles in the news

1. China’s request for CPTPP allays South Korea’s fears South Korea will ask to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership, after China’s bid for the regional trade pact allays Seoul’s fears of upsetting its largest trading partner.

2. Deaths increase after “unprecedented” American tornadoes Rescue efforts continued yesterday after what the governor of Kentucky described as the “longest and deadliest” tornado event in American history left dozens of people dead and a trail of devastation in across the southern and midwestern United States.

3. Beijing will moderate its monetary policy to support growth The Chinese Communist Party’s annual year-end economic planning meeting, which ended in Beijing on Friday, said it would “prioritize stability,” according to state-run Xinhua. He added that the Chinese economy was facing “triple pressure” from shrinking demand, supply shocks and weakening expectations.

4. Nicaragua breaks off diplomatic relations with Taiwan Managua has said it is severing long-standing diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognizing the Beijing government as the sole seat of power in China. The move follows a similar pledge from Xiomara Castro, the new president of Honduras, and highlights the escalation of China’s campaign to isolate Taiwan.

5. British spy chief raises fears about China’s digital renminbi The digital currency, which is heavily promoted ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics, risks becoming a tool to monitor users and exert control over global currency transactions, warned Sir Jeremy Fleming, director of the UK agency. information on GCHQ signals.

Coronavirus digest

• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all over 18s across England will be offered their Covid-19 booster shot by January. Meanwhile, Johnson

  faces new criticism over his adherence to the coronavirus rules, after photos of him taking a Christmas quiz last December were posted.

• Tens of thousands of we Government employees are still not vaccinated despite a federal mandate on vaccines, a Financial Times analysis found.

• Health officials in Africa complained about the of the EU the slow deployment of vaccines in the poorest countries, with deliveries sometimes arriving in unpredictable quantities.

• The attempt at renewal in the travel industry has stalled as airline and hotel bookings plummeted following the emergence of the Omicron variant.

• Like health officials around the world trying to contain the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, which has been detected in more than 50 countries on six continents, scientists continue to question its origins, giving rise to competing theories.

The day to come

US Secretary of State visits Southeast Asia Antony Blinken, America’s top diplomat, will visit Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia as the Biden administration steps up engagement in the region to counter China. (Reuters)

Hong Kong to condemn pro-democracy activists The Territory’s district court is expected to sentence five pro-democracy activists, including media mogul Jimmy Lai, to prison for participating in an unauthorized rally during the vigil in Tiananmen Square last year.

OPEC monthly report The group is expected to publish its monthly report on the oil market. Sign up for our Energy Source newsletter, delivered Tuesdays and Thursdays, for the latest news.

What else do we read

North Korea searches across the border for its biggest threat Analysts argue that Pyongyang’s dependence on Beijing is deeply uncomfortable for North Korean officials who have long viewed China – not the United States – as the main threat to the regime’s long-term survival.

Millions of Indians join the rush for retail investment Thanks to technology and access to some of the cheapest data in the world, retail investors now account for 45% of the total exchange market share in India, with their increase reflecting the increase in the number of traders in the states. United and UK which brought about the meme stock mania.

In JPMorgan’s customer poaching line A battle over who will manage the fortune of baseball player Alex Rodriguez reveals a bitter turf war at the American bank. The situation escalated into a legal dispute between the bank and a financial adviser, who argues that his new colleagues tried to poach his billionaire and multi-millionaire clients.

Can British Police Regain Public Trust? Charges of misconduct and a series of flawed investigations have cast doubt on the competence of the British forces. Concerns are particularly acute for sexual assault and rape crimes and cases involving minorities.

A work error teaches so much more than a triumph Failure is so obviously a better teacher than success that it is cliché to mention it. Business books regularly indicate that cultures without blame, where mistakes are recognized, help boost productivity and innovation, writes Pilita Clark.

Gifts

From jams and jewelry to artistic foundations and food activism, the second issue of How To Spend It philanthropy examines all kinds of charitable work. Find out how to give it 2021.