US president Joe Biden made a shock go to to Kyiv on Monday in a present of American dedication forward of the primary anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

On a visit shrouded by secrecy for safety causes after months of planning, Biden introduced $500mn in new navy assist.

“I’m right here to indicate our unwavering assist for the nation’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Biden mentioned, vowing to face with Ukraine for “so long as it takes”.

The stopover got here at a pivotal second within the struggle, as western nations talk about how far to go in arming Kyiv and because the 80-year outdated president gears up for a potential re-election marketing campaign.

Ukraine is looking for the speedy supply of billions of {dollars} in western weapons, whereas Russia has elevated assaults and is getting ready a bigger offensive, though its progress has been halting thus far.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Biden for coming at “probably the most troublesome time” for his nation. “This dialog brings us nearer to victory,” Zelenskyy mentioned at a joint look at Mariinsky Palace, his official residence.

• FT subscriber occasion: To mark the primary anniversary of Russia’s full-blown invasion of Ukraine, the FT shall be holding an unique webinar for subscribers to debate the way forward for the struggle, with FT correspondents and particular company. Register totally free.

5 extra tales within the information

1. Recent tremors hit earthquake-devastated province in Turkey Two tremors measuring 6.4 and 5.8 in magnitude struck the province of Hatay yesterday, two weeks after the area was devastated by bigger earthquakes that killed nearly 45,000 folks.

2. China’s high diplomat to debate Ukraine struggle throughout Moscow go to Wang Yi, China’s most senior overseas coverage official, will talk about the struggle in Ukraine with senior Russian officers this week and will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin mentioned yesterday. The announcement comes a day after the US warned that Beijing was “strongly contemplating” supporting Russia’s sputtering struggle effort with arms provides.

3. Hong Kong proposes letting retail traders commerce cryptocurrencies Below plans launched yesterday by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Fee, the business’s two largest crypto tokens — bitcoin and ether — can be opened as much as retail prospects. Licensed exchanges can be required to make sure purchasers have “enough data of digital belongings” earlier than they’re allowed to commerce.

4. World Financial institution members break up on reforms Growing nations have warned in opposition to reforms on the World Financial institution that may imperil its triple-A credit standing and enhance funding prices after Trump appointee David Malpass’s early departure. Shareholders and economists have argued the financial institution may present extra local weather finance by increasing its steadiness sheet and taking over extra threat.

5. South Korea’s ruling social gathering chief hints at want for nuclear weapons Chung Jin-suk, the chief of South Korea’s ruling Folks Energy social gathering, has warned that the nation might need to “critically take into account” creating its personal nuclear weapons as a deterrent to its northern neighbour. North Korea at present fired two short-range ballistic missiles, following the launch on Saturday of what Pyongyang claimed was a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile, which specialists consider is able to hanging the mainland US.

The day forward

Putin speaks on struggle Right this moment, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin will handle the struggle in Ukraine and its affect on Russian society in a delayed state-of-the-nation handle, the Kremlin mentioned.

Financial information Gross home product is the principle US information level at present and minutes from the final Federal Reserve’s assembly land tomorrow.

Public sector finance UK public-sector borrowing figures for January are out at present. Will increase in debt curiosity and spending on power assist schemes made final month’s launch the very best month-to-month complete since data started in January 1993.

Firms Final week NatWest introduced an nearly tripling of income pushed by increased rates of interest. These also needs to increase income for HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group once they report at present and tomorrow.

What else we’re studying

America’s battle to comprise the lethal drug Fentanyl US mother and father are mourning the deaths of their kids amid an unprecedented medicine disaster, which claimed 107,000 lives within the yr to August 2022. About two-thirds of these deaths had been brought on by fentanyl, an artificial opioid that’s 50 instances stronger than heroin and used to deal with extreme most cancers ache. However it’s more and more being lower into unlawful road medicine by way of a well-honed provide chain constructed by Chinese language and Mexican crime syndicates.

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Britain can study from Singapore on financial savings The UK invests too little. Naturally, this has led to a dialogue of the way to induce extra funding. But how would the additional funding be funded by a rustic that’s much more strikingly wanting financial savings than it’s of funding? Singapore’s mannequin might be the reply, writes Martin Wolf.

Lacking Chinese language dealmaker casts chill throughout tech sector The disappearance of Bao Fan, founding father of funding financial institution China Renaissance, has set on edge the nation’s huge tech business that the dealmaker helped construct. Bao’s destiny is a pivotal take a look at of Beijing’s stance on the sector — a two-year crackdown has already sidelined Alibaba chief Jack Ma, decimated the huge for-profit schooling business and hit investments globally.

CEO whisperers: who does the boss flip to of their hour of want? Some leaders use trusted insiders, others depend on “skilled critics” to inform them uncomfortable truths. Oliver Balch spoke to a spread of chief executives to listen to their tales. “CEOs typically lack candid problem . . . and as an alternative find yourself in just a little echo chamber, which is when corporations are at risk of getting issues horribly mistaken,” mentioned one CEO.

Take a break from the information

After years spent as a “bottle brunette”, Grace Cook dinner determined to reclaim her id as a blonde and love her pure hair.