Russia is mulling over the U.S. response to its demands on Ukraine and NATO

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Russia is mulling over the U.S. response to its demands on Ukraine and NATO

Transcript¹

The U.S. and NATO delivered formal written responses Wednesday to a series of far-reaching Russian demands concerning Ukraine. The Kremlin's response so far seems skeptical².

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

The United States and Russia are talking slowly. Both parts of that are important - that they're talking and that a slow rhythm of statements and responses may offer time to work out a solution to the crisis over Ukraine. Yesterday, the United States gave a written response to Russian demands, including one that Ukraine must never join NATO. Of course, Russia is threatening to invade Ukraine. We begin our coverage³ with NPR's Charles Maynes in Moscow. Hey there, Charles.

CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE⁴: Good morning.

INSKEEP: OK, so we don't know the text of the U.S. response, but we're pretty sure the U.S. didn't give in to that main Russian demand. How is Russia taking it?

MAYNES: Well, the Kremlin spokesman today said the U.S. responses didn't give much cause for optimism, but he said it was too soon to rush to conclusions. We also heard from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He said Russia was studying the American answers, but he sounded a pretty skeptical note.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

SERGEY LAVROV: (Non-English language spoken).

MAYNES: So Lavrov says that when it came to the main Russian demands regarding NATO expansion into Eastern Europe and Ukraine, there was nothing positive in the U.S. response. Lavrov added that some American proposals warranted, quote, "serious discussion," but they were of a secondary nature. And, you know, that seems to be a reference to suggestions outlined by Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday, in which Blinken said the two sides could meet halfway⁶ on issues such as arms control or general risk reduction. But, you know, those are important issues, but clearly not the big-ticket items Moscow is after.

INSKEEP: Well, what happens now, then?

MAYNES: Well, you know, Blinken says the ball is in Russia's court, and that means it's in Russian President Vladimir's - Vladimir Putin's court. You know, Russia's government is so centralized, it really comes down to Putin and whether he is prepared to entertain, you know, some of these compromises that Washington and its allies are offering. You know, does Russia negotiate to get some of what it wants, or does the Kremlin move forward with what Putin has called military technical means now that its main demands appear not to have been met? Now, let's not forget those hundred thousand Russian troops near Ukraine's border. And Russia's been carrying out large-scale exercises all week with them.

INSKEEP: I guess we should note the two foreign ministers - or the secretary of state and the foreign minister - have indicated they intend to talk again. Is there any other sign that diplomacy⁷ may continue here?

MAYNES: Yeah. You know, yesterday we also saw France and Germany host officials from Russia and Ukraine in Paris for peace talks focused on the war in East Ukraine. It ended with no progress, but it did have this exception. There was a promise to meet again in two weeks. The next round will be in Berlin. And, you know, interestingly, Blinken also spoke⁵ yesterday with China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, who urged all parties involved in the Ukraine crisis to refrain from inflammatory actions. Now, that message comes, of course, as athletes arrive to Beijing for the Olympic Games. And here's what's curious. You know, Putin has said he will join for the opening ceremonies on February 4. And there have been reports - denied by the Kremlin, I should add - that China's leadership has asked Putin not to do anything in Ukraine that would upstage the games. And so, true or not, the fact is they're allies. And, you know, you have to think the Kremlin is at least sensitive to the idea of ruining China's party.

INSKEEP: NPR's Charles Maynes in Moscow, thanks.

MAYNES: Thank you.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

3 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

7 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。