Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov says he is not planning to leave his post

as a corruption scandal continues to rock his office.

In Pyazulian Hidal reports, transparency is a top concern for Ukraine's Western allies.

During a marathon, 90-minute press conference, Reznikov said he's ordered multiple audits

of Ukraine's defense ministry in the last two weeks, including by inviting journalists

and activists to lead the process.

We need to do a hard reset of our anti-corruption practices, Reznikov.

They haven't worked like they were supposed to, but several resignations and arrests

have nonetheless put pressure on Reznikov to resign.

President Ukraine, Siav Comang, I served at the pleasure of the president to send Reznikov,

the leader of Ukraine's ruling servant of the People Party, David Arachamiya, says he

intends to push Reznikov to a different position within Ukraine's cabinet, replacing

him with Ukraine's intelligence chief, Udyat Hidal and Pyar News, Kiev.

China's defense ministry is criticizing the U.S. decision to shoot down a balloon spotted

floating across the U.S. causing the use of force and overreaction.

Pyaz Emily Fang reports the incident has provoked a furor on both sides.

China's defense ministry said Sunday, it, quote, reserve the right to use any means necessary

to respond to the U.S.'s shooting down of its balloon.

When it continues to insist, the balloon was a civilian airship used primarily for research,

and not the surveillance vehicle U.S. defense officials say it almost certainly was.

A U.S. F-22 fighter jet shot down the balloon off the coast of South Carolina this weekend,

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