美国国家公共电台 NPR--Zelenskyy told Congress continued aid is an investment in global security. Is it?

Zelenskyy told Congress continued aid is an investment in global security. Is it?

Transcript¹

NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe on the National Security Council, about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's trip to Washington and U.S. assistance.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a joint² meeting of Congress last night U.S. aid can speed up a Ukrainian victory over Russia.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: Your money is not charity. It's an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.

FADEL: During Zelenskyy's surprise visit to Washington, President Biden announced another $1.8 billion in additional military assistance to Ukraine and said more is on the way. Joining us now is Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe on the National Security Council. Good morning, Amanda. Thanks for being on the program.

AMANDA SLOAT: Good morning. Thanks for having me.

FADEL: So, Amanda, we heard there Zelenskyy call U.S. aid not charity but an investment in global security - 2.2 billion in more defense³ and humanitarian⁴ aid announced yesterday. The omnibus spending bill that Congress is sending to the president includes 45 billion more in support for Ukraine, plus the more than 65 billion already spent. Is it too much?

SLOAT: We don't believe so. The Ukrainian people have been fighting valiantly⁵ for 301 days now to defend their democracy, their sovereignty, their territorial⁶ integrity. And this is a fight that matters globally. This is about more than just Ukraine. This is about defending the principles enshrined in the U.N. charter.

FADEL: Now, a number of prominent Republicans have been saying Ukraine doesn't get a blank check here. They are poised⁷ to take the House - control of the House soon. Was this Zelenskyy visit and address to Congress a plea to them?

SLOAT: I think this was an opportunity for him to speak to Congress, to the president and to the American people. President Zelenskyy last night laid out very eloquently⁸ what the people of Ukraine are fighting for, why it matters for the families of Ukraine who are spending much of their time this Christmas in darkness. And he also put it into a broader context, including historically, about why the defense of these shared values matter more broadly.

FADEL: Now, the latest military support from the U.S. includes a battery of Patriot⁹ missiles, which Ukraine has been asking for. And now the U.S. is sending them. Has something changed that prompted this decision?

SLOAT: Russia has been increasingly aggressive over the last number of weeks and months in targeting the critical infrastructure¹⁰ in Ukraine. As I said, many families are spending Christmas in cold and darkness. And so as Russia has continued its brutal¹¹ attacks on the critical infrastructure, the Ukrainians made clear that air defense was a more critical need. The United States has evolved in the types of assistance that we have provided to Ukraine throughout the battle. And increasingly, over the last number of weeks and months, we have started to send air defense systems, including things like NASAMS and Stingers and Hawk¹² missiles. And so the decision was made that it was critically important now to get them a Patriot battery that would enable them to more effectively defend this critical infrastructure that's under attack.

FADEL: Now, as you point out, it's going to be a very difficult Christmas for Ukrainians under attack. And Moscow has actually warned that supplying Patriots¹³ would be seen as a provocation¹⁴. Do you think this might, then, escalate¹⁵ things?

SLOAT: Patriots are a defensive¹⁶ weapons system...

FADEL: Yeah.

SLOAT: ...That will help Ukraine defend itself as Russia sends missile after missile and drone after drone to try and destroy Ukrainian infrastructure and kill Ukrainian civilians¹⁷. If Russia doesn't want their missiles shot down, Russia should stop sending them into Ukraine.

FADEL: Now, the U.S. says European allies are facing tremendous pressures - hardships with energy and gas supplies, food shortages, a hard winter setting in. Is there concern that the international coalition¹⁸ for Ukraine could splinter under this strain?

SLOAT: So far, we haven't seen that. President Biden has been incredibly active over the period of the conflict in terms of building an international coalition and rallying an international coalition. And even over the last number of weeks, President Biden has continued to do that, including engaging with African leaders during the summit here in Washington a couple weeks ago, during his trip to Asia, when he met with ASEAN leaders, when he met with leaders at the G-20. And so far, we have seen very strong resolve in Europe. For many countries that went through World War I, World War II, they understand the broader principles of democracy and freedom that are at stake here.

FADEL: And just in the last few seconds we have left, this morning, Kremlin saying that this is the U.S. fighting a proxy¹⁹ war against Russia - of course, this war provoked by Russia, unprompted, no reason. But I want to get your response to their accusation²⁰.

SLOAT: Russia clearly is the aggressor here. President Putin could stop this war today if he wants. Ukraine is not looking to fight. Ukraine and President Zelenskyy have made clear that they want just peace. And all the United States has been doing is giving Ukraine the ability to defend itself against this aggression²¹.

FADEL: Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the National Security Council. Thanks for joining us.

SLOAT: 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 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

5 valiantly   

adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳

参考例句：

• He faced the enemy valiantly, shuned no difficulties and dangers and would not hesitate to lay down his life if need be. 他英勇对敌，不避艰险，赴汤蹈火在所不计。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Murcertach strove valiantly to meet the new order of things. 面对这个新事态，默克塔克英勇奋斗。 来自辞典例句

6 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

7 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

8 eloquently   

adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地)

参考例句：

• I was toasted by him most eloquently at the dinner. 进餐时他口若悬河地向我祝酒。
• The poet eloquently expresses the sense of lost innocence. 诗人动人地表达了失去天真的感觉。

9 patriot   

n.爱国者，爱国主义者

参考例句：

• He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
• He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。

10 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

11 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

12 hawk   

n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员

参考例句：

• The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
• The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。

13 patriots   

爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Abraham Lincoln was a fine type of the American patriots. 亚伯拉罕·林肯是美国爱国者的优秀典型。
• These patriots would fight to death before they surrendered. 这些爱国者宁愿战斗到死，也不愿投降。

14 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

15 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

16 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

17 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

18 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

19 proxy   

n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人

参考例句：

• You may appoint a proxy to vote for you.你可以委托他人代你投票。
• We enclose a form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting.我们附上委任年度大会代表的表格。

20 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

21 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。