Russia's Baltic neighbors worry that they could be Moscow's next target

Russia's Baltic neighbors worry that they could be Moscow's next target

　　Transcript¹

　　NPR's A Martinez talks to Rihards Kols of the Latvian parliament's foreign affairs committee, about concerns faced by Latvia and other Baltic states as Russia continues its attacks in Ukraine.

　　A MARTINEZ, HOST:

　　Several strikes, some deadly, once again being reported today across Ukraine. In the capital, Kyiv, the mayor says another apartment building was hit. In the eastern city of Kharkiv, the State Emergency Service reports a teaching building was shelled. And in the west, four missiles hit an aviation repair building at the Lviv International Airport. That's the first attack within Lviv's city limits since the war began. As Russian forces continue their bombardments, Russia's Baltic neighbors are growing more concerned that they could be the next target. Yesterday, the heads of the Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian parliamentarians spoke² to the Helsinki Commission, which is a U.S. agency focused on security. And they want a permanent U.S. troop presence in the region and also a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Joining us now is Rihards Kols, chairman of the Latvian Parliament's foreign affairs committee. Welcome, Rihards.

　　RIHARDS KOLS: Good morning.

　　MARTINEZ: There seems to be a shift within NATO members when it comes to a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Your country, along with three others, are now calling for this no-fly zone. Why now?

　　KOLS: Well, it's not only now. We've been hearing this call since 28 of February when President Zelenskyy called it. And we see the situation is deteriorating³, particularly seeing that Russian military is purposely targeting civilian⁴ areas. And not only that, as you may know, in Ukraine, there are 15 nuclear power stations that can be hazardous⁵, not only if something goes wrong for Ukraine but the whole world. So therefore, what we see right now, even the green corridors where there are talks, negotiations⁶ between Ukrainian and Russian side to agree to create these corridors, they're constantly violated by the Russian side. So therefore, the call for the no-fly zone, even though we understand that there is a lot of complications at the U.N. level, particularly knowing that the Security Council, that Russia holds the veto rights on that and the most probably going to be vetoed. But this is - maybe somebody might say it's symbolic⁷ approach for the Baltic parliaments to call for a no-fly zone. But what we have to do is really go from words to deeds, really assist in all matters as we can to protect Ukrainian skies from constant bombings from the Russian planes, military planes and rocket systems.

　　MARTINEZ: You mentioned those nuclear facilities. Many people, many military experts, have said a no-fly zone would be like starting World War III, which may include nuclear weapons. I mean, what's your response to that?

　　KOLS: But then again, I mean, right now, it's - I think we have to drop the rhetoric⁸ which is stated that, you know, everything we going to do is going to escalate⁹ things and it's going to trigger, you know, Putin to other directions, you know, unpredictable and et cetera. We're way past that period. I mean, we had the three months of intense talks and dialogue with Russia. And what in the end happened? There was already pre-staged a circus from Russia's side. They already had the plans adopted, the military ready to attack a sovereign country. So right now to talk about any move from the West or for democratic parts of the world will only escalate things further, I think we have already passed that threshold.

　　MARTINEZ: But, sir, there is another level this could go to, an even more horrific level.

　　KOLS: Well, then again, I have to be very precise. We also have to look what is happening internally in Russia as well. I mean, at the high highest level, at the, you know, elites¹⁰ or Putin's inner circle, we see for the past few days, there are senior officials being detained, put on house arrest and et cetera. And when it comes to nuclear, as everybody is - you know, that is Russia - Putin's modus operandi, to spread fear, to threaten, you know, possible tactical nuclear attack, be it on NATO member states, so be it against Ukraine. Well, it's not, you know, a Hollywood movie where everybody thinks that he has this red button that he presses and, you know, nukes are launched. There is a command chain. And I don't think that there is a huge stability right now among the Russian military as well on the plans and how everything has evolved. There are huge doubts. And, you know, I don't think they are prepared for a long-term challenge that that is facing right now Russian military in Ukraine.

　　MARTINEZ: If the concern is that the Baltics could be targeted next, do you think that Ukraine right now is fighting for Latvia and the Baltics?

　　KOLS: Well, I have to be very clear on this. And this should be also kind of changed in the Western thinking mindset. We're not talking - there is a rhetoric the Baltics might be next. Look, let's be clear, NATO will be next. Baltic countries are NATO member states. And this is somewhat - this is not acceptable from the Baltic countries as well, is like we're talking about separate entity¹¹ within NATO that will be attacked. And, you know, I mean, we have received the reassurances¹² on Article 5, iron clad, not an inch. So therefore we shouldn't stick ourselves in such a mindset on thinking what might be Putin doing next? What we have to do right now, protect ourselves, support Ukraine as much as we can.

　　MARTINEZ: Because it sounds like you're convinced that that's going to happen, that there is no doubt in your mind that you're going to be next.

　　KOLS: Well, no. The thing is, we have lived next to Russia, well, since we regained¹³ independence and before that. And such a rhetoric, such a aggression¹⁴ we have experienced in our skin, you know, time again and again. This is something which, you know, it's not going to bully¹⁵ us that easily from Russia's side. And just to be clear, Ukraine is fighting for us right now. They are fighting for us. And the thing is for the Baltic countries as well, we are the front line. We are defending. If we fail, the rest of the West fails. So therefore, we have to collectively support each other as much as we can, not shedding any potential doubt or, you know, hesitation¹⁶. Hesitation is exactly what provokes Putin.

　　MARTINEZ: You recently tweeted about what you call the European Union's broken moral compass when it comes to Ukraine. Can you explain what you meant by that?

　　KOLS: Well, of course, the moral compass is only applicable to individuals. I mean, you cannot apply moral to a state as an entity. But it has been even these past three weeks, time to time, there are those that indicate that, you know, questioning. You know, in current circumstance, German Chancellor¹⁷ Scholz just now said, you know, he still sees that there is a diplomatic path ahead to solve the current war that Russia is conducting in Ukraine. I mean, that is, you know, wishful thinking, I guess. And so, therefore, the moral compass is that we don't doubt ourselves in the questioning how we can support, not questioning putting, you know, financial assets or something like that. And, you know, membership of the EU is also a good question.

　　MARTINEZ: That's Rihards Kols, chairman of the Latvian Parliament's foreign affairs committee. Thank you very much for your time.

　　KOLS: Thank you.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF GOGO PENGUIN'S "REACTOR")

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 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。

3 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

4 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

5 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

8 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

9 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。

10 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。

11 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

12 reassurances   

n.消除恐惧或疑虑( reassurance的名词复数 )；恢复信心；使人消除恐惧或疑虑的事物；使人恢复信心的事物

参考例句：

• We have had some reassurances from the council that the building will be saved. 理事会保证会保留那座建筑，这使我们得到了些许安慰。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Everybody's reassurances have encouraged me. 大家的勉励鼓舞了我。 来自辞典例句

13 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

14 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。

15 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

16 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

17 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。