After months of escalation, Russia has begun an invasion of Ukraine

After months of escalation¹, Russia has begun an invasion of Ukraine

Transcript²

Russia invades Ukraine as blasts are heard in Kyiv and other cities. President Biden called the attack a "needless act of aggression³" and warned of "a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering."

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

Russia has begun an attack on Ukraine. Right now, we'll get perspective on what's happening in Ukraine from NPR's Tim Mak, who is on the outskirts⁴ of the capital, Kyiv, and Franco Ordonez, who is following how the White House is responding to the invasion. Tim, let's start with you and the latest from Ukraine. You spent the last couple of hours in the capital, which came under bombardment before dawn broke. Can you tell us what happened, what's been targeted, and is the attack still going on?

TIM MAK, BYLINE⁵: So the residents of Kyiv and cities all across Ukraine were woken up overnight by bombing. And where we were in central Kyiv, we heard explosions in the early morning, and there have been a lot of reports of more explosions since then. So far, what we're seeing is reports of military installations and airports being targeted by these attacks, and the situation is obviously very fluid. The country seems to be under assault from multiple directions, and Putin's objective appears, at least in these initial hours, to degrade Ukrainian military's capabilities⁶.

MARTINEZ: Tim, what's the reaction been in Ukraine? I mean, how are Ukrainians responding to this aggression from Russia?

MAK: Well, I think that one initial reaction is that of shock. I arrived last evening on one of the last commercial flights into Kyiv, and Ukrainians were pointing out that this was a city that was not panicking despite the threat of an invasion, and the situation has obviously changed drastically overnight. Many residents of Kyiv are trying to evacuate⁷ towards the West. There are long lines that we've observed all day at ATMs, gas stations and supermarkets. In fact, right now, as I speak to you, we're in line to get gas. Traffic is at a standstill leaving town, making it really difficult for people to leave.

MARTINEZ: Let's move to Franco Ordonez now. Franco, what's been the reaction from the White House?

FRANCO ORDO?EZ, BYLINE: You know, President Biden quickly denounced the attack after Vladimir Putin announced the operation would begin, and in a statement, Biden said it was, quote, "unprovoked and unjustified." He called it a premeditated war, and he promised that the world would hold Russia accountable. He also said that he and the first lady are praying for the, quote, "brave and proud people of Ukraine." Biden did speak with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last night about the steps the West would take in response. You know, he was already going to meet with G-7 leaders virtually this morning about the crisis, and he says he'll also make a public address this afternoon to announce further consequences that the U.S. and allies plan to take on Russia.

MARTINEZ: Tim, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy spoke⁸ with President Biden. What did they talk about?

MAK: Well, yeah, Franco mentioned that call [unintelligible] President Biden called, quote, "flagrant aggression" of Russia's President Putin. Biden said he condemned⁹ (ph) the attack by the Russian military and would be taking steps to rally the international community against the Russian government. Biden also said that America will continue to provide aid to Ukraine.

MARTINEZ: Tim, all right, Tim, hey - yeah, Tim. Let's see if his line can get ironed out. He is in Kyiv, on the outskirts of Kyiv, so let's go to Franco now. Franco, this move from Vladimir Putin is now going to prompt further consequences. What can you tell us about new sanctions that are expected?

ORDO?EZ: Yeah, the president has already announced that the White - what the White House describes as the first tranche of sanctions. You know, those have included sanctions against two major Russian financial institutions, along with the government's ability to access Western financing. Also, sanctions were imposed against the Russian-owned company that is building the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline¹¹. And Biden warned that those were just the start. The administration has been kind of telegraphing what could come next. That could include targeting more Russian elites¹², more Russian banks and export controls, which would be basically cutting Russia off from some critical technology like semiconductors¹³. The administration and bipartisan members of Congress have been talking about providing additional assistance to Ukraine and allies and partners as well.

MARTINEZ: Let's go back to Tim. Tim, your line cut out when you were telling us about what Zelenskyy and Biden spoke about.

MAK: So obviously the situation is really quickly evolving. You know, there are - there's a lot of lines at the supermarkets, at gas stations. In fact, we're at one right now. Basically, it's a very fluid situation.

MARTINEZ: And President Zelenskyy, I know, spoke a little while ago. What did he say?

MAK: Well, he was talking about how the Ukrainian government is handing out weapons and asking folks in this country to protect their land. He said that those who have combat experience should be taking up arms and that their greatest asset was their national unity¹⁰.

MARTINEZ: Franco Ordonez, President Biden, you mentioned, is going to have a call with leaders of the G-7 later today. What could possibly get accomplished¹⁴ there on this call?

ORDO?EZ: You know, A, it's a critical time. The United States and allies have been warning about this situation for weeks. And really, the call is all about making sure that allies are on the same page and committed to carrying out the plan that, you know, they laid out if Russia invades. It's to give an update, you know, because the reality is this is going to cause some pain. Gas prices are likely to go up, and some of the leaders could face some political pushback, as we're actually seeing here in the United States as well. The reality is that Europe's economy is even more intertwined with that of Russia's, especially for energy. So this is going to be hard, and Biden and the allies are going to be encouraging each other to stick together.

MARTINEZ: And Tim, let's go back to you for a second. You mentioned you were in line waiting to get gas. How long is that line? How many people are around you? And just watching video from Kyiv, the freeway, the traffic looks like it's not moving at all. How bad is it where you're at?

MAK: Well, you can definitely see a lot of bumper-to-bumper traffic all the way going west from Kyiv. We've been in line for gas now for quite some time, waiting to go on air with you folks. But we finally got to the front of the line, so we're hoping to continue moving.

MARTINEZ: That's Tim Mak in the capital, in Kyiv, and NPR's Franco Ordonez in Washington, D.C. My thanks to you both.

ORDO?EZ: Thank you.

1 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

2 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。

3 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

4 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

5 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。

6 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

7 evacuate   

v.遣送；搬空；抽出；排泄；大(小)便

参考例句：

• We must evacuate those soldiers at once!我们必须立即撤出这些士兵！
• They were planning to evacuate the seventy American officials still in the country.他们正计划转移仍滞留在该国的70名美国官员。

8 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。

9 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

10 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

11 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

12 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

13 semiconductors   

n.半导体( semiconductor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Crystals may be insulators, semiconductors, or conductors. 晶体可以是绝缘体，半导体，或导体。 来自辞典例句
• Semiconductors containing such impurities are called p-type semiconductors. 含有这类杂质的半导体叫做P型半导体。 来自辞典例句

14 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。