Olaf Scholz, German chancellor, is making ready to launch an try to discourage Vladimir Putin from additional invading Ukraine, as US officers warned Russia was on the point of launching an assault on its western neighbour.

Scholz will journey to Kyiv immediately earlier than arriving in Moscow tomorrow, the place the German chief is anticipated to induce Putin to de-escalate the state of affairs.

His tour comes as western nations withdrew diplomatic and navy personnel from Ukraine and airways cancelled flights to the nation, whereas some European international locations ready to obtain a flood of refugees.

Ukraine is anticipating Kremlin-backed hackers to improve cyber exercise, together with espionage and disinformation, within the occasion of a navy incursion.

Scholz’s aides mentioned that the chancellor had not given up hope that diplomacy may avert a struggle, though they performed down expectations of a breakthrough.

“I don’t assume that we’ll come out of this with some sort of concrete end result,” mentioned the official, including that “now just isn’t the time for resignation”. However the Russian chief’s hardline technique might have already introduced him dividends.

• Explainer: Within the 30 years since Kyiv declared independence from the Soviet Union, how have relations soured between Ukraine and Russia?

• Brussels regulators have halted an antitrust probe into QatarEnergy over considerations that gasoline provides to Europe may very well be disrupted by a Russian invasion.

• Opinion: The Iraq struggle is casting a shadow over the credibility of US warnings over Ukraine, writes Gideon Rachman.

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Do you suppose diplomacy can cease Russia from invading Ukraine? Share your ideas with me at firstft@ft.com. Thanks for studying FirstFT Europe/Africa — Jennifer

5 extra tales within the information

1. Telecoms CEOs urge EU lawmakers to push web funding Europe’s largest telecoms suppliers have referred to as on lawmakers to compel Large Tech teams to contribute extra to the price of increasing web infrastructure, accused video streaming, gaming and social media teams of piggybacking on billions of euros of funding in an open letter within the Monetary Instances.

2. Shopper giants warn of rising enter prices Among the world’s greatest shopper manufacturers are passing quickly rising prices on to clients with substantial worth hikes amid surging inflation. As family bills and labour and transport prices climb, stockpiles of necessary commodities corresponding to metals have hit document lows resulting from booming demand and provide shortages.

• Excellent news for oil and gasoline: Buyers are piling into US oil and gasoline firm debt, lured by their capability to generate money once more as vitality costs soar.

3. HSBC trims non-public financial institution employees and reduces Swiss workplace house The lender is chopping 110 help employees in Switzerland and scaling again its workplace in Geneva following a nasty 12 months for its Swiss non-public financial institution, throughout which rich shoppers withdrew a web $1bn.

4. Balyasny chief pushes hedge funds into non-public start-ups Dmitry Balyasny, head of one of many largest US hedge funds, instructed the FT that he anticipated an growing variety of his friends to start investing in non-public corporations, regardless of fears of overheating within the crowded market.

5. Dubai ruler steps in over retail empire’s inheritance dispute Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has appointed a judicial committee to resolve a household dispute among the many heirs of the late Majid Al Futtaim, founding father of an eponymous retail and leisure empire that is likely one of the emirate’s largest non-public corporations.

Coronavirus digest

• Boris Johnson obtained a police questionnaire on Friday over alleged breaches of Covid-19 guidelines at Downing Road.

• The variety of economically inactive 50- to 64-year olds within the UK has risen nearly 250,000 since March 2020. Individually, spending in smaller regional centres has bounced again stronger in 2022 than in bigger cities extra reliant on workplace staff.

• Peak influenza season might have been artificially suppressed by Covid containment measures, well being consultants mentioned, elevating fears of a later surge.

• US biotech Moderna is in late-stage talks with the UK about collaborating with the NHS on scientific trials.

• Canadian police have made progress clearing a week-long blockade by anti-lockdown demonstrators at a vital border crossing with the US.

• There’s a palpable sense of satisfaction as Chinese language Olympic athletes exceed expectations and Beijing’s genius for managing huge occasions is placed on show.

• As staff complain about burnout and grapple with navigating hybrid work, some employers are chopping again on “assembly bloat”.

• Opinion: Slower progress and better inflation are the hallmarks of a post-Covid world, writes Ruchir Sharma, chair of Rockefeller Worldwide.

The day forward

Brazil-Russia leaders meet Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro will journey to Moscow to debate commerce relations with Vladimir Putin.

Company earnings French tire producer Michelin has outcomes for the total 12 months, and Brazilian vitality firm Raízen for the third quarter.

What else we’re studying

Emmanuel Macron gambles on financial document As he gears as much as declare his candidacy for re-election, the French president has been trumpeting manufacturing facility openings and funding pledges as proof that “re-industrialisation” is beneath manner. However many citizens really feel left behind.

• Interview: Valérie Pécresse, the conservative Les Républicains nominee, instructed the FT that individuals must work more durable and the state spend much less if she turns into president.

FT International MBA Rating 2022 Excessive salaries for graduates of American MBA programmes helped US enterprise colleges prime the FT’s 2022 rating after a 12 months with sturdy demand for the diploma amid the disruption of the pandemic. See the total rating right here.

Learn how to assist your employees love a takeover risk The collapse of SoftBank’s sale of Arm to Nvidia has ushered in a interval of flux for employees of the UK-based chipmaker. Uncertainty is inevitable with takeovers, however managers can encourage their groups to see the intense facet of offers, writes Andrew Hill.

A lightweight on monetary darkness Final week’s announcement by the US Securities and Alternate Fee of extra regulation for personal markets — together with audits of personal funds and extra transparency round charges — was welcome however overdue, writes Rana Foroohar.

Lithuania assessments EU resolve on Chinese language coercion Beijing is focusing on the Baltic nation after it allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy. For a lot of policymakers in Europe, Asia and the US, China’s ways with Lithuania mark a watershed for the worldwide economic system.

Home & dwelling

“I’m searching for bedside tables for my new dwelling. Any concepts?” asks a reader. Designer and FT columnist Luke Edward Corridor shares his suggestions on type this neglected important.