美国国家公共电台 NPR--Tensions are on the rise between Russian and Europe's Baltic region

Tensions are on the rise between Russian and Europe's Baltic region

Transcript¹

The Kremlin is threatening to retaliate² against NATO member state Lithuania, after the Baltic state decided³ to block some goods into a Russian territory known as Kaliningrad.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

As the war in Ukraine stretches into month five, things are getting more precarious⁴ for other former Soviet⁵ republics. Lithuania decided to block some goods from getting into a Russian territory known as Kaliningrad. And now the Kremlin is threatening to retaliate. Lithuania, we should note, is a member of NATO, so there is a lot of dangerous potential in all this. NPR's Charles Maynes is currently in Kaliningrad. And he joins me now. Hey, Charles.

CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE⁶: Hi there. Morning.

MARTIN: So set this up for us by explaining more of this territory, Kaliningrad, and how it has become this source of tension right now.

MAYNES: Sure. You know, Kaliningrad is a territory that was seized from Germany and became part of the Soviet Union - along with the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - at the end of World War II. Only amid the push for independence of those countries and breakup of the USSR in 1991, you know, Kaliningrad became something of an island. You know, today, it's called an exclave. It's a separate bit of Russian territory sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland, which are both, of course, now European Union and NATO members. But these recent tensions with Kaliningrad, they really stem from Russia's military campaign in Ukraine and resulting Western sanctions. The problem here is that Lithuania is also applying those sanctions to goods travelling from mainland Russia through its territory into Kaliningrad. The Kremlin says that's illegal.

MARTIN: OK, so lots of complications in all of this. You're on the ground there. What have you been hearing from people?

MAYNES: Yeah. You know, so far, the ban only impacts select goods, like steel, cement, furniture. And as a result, there is an outsized impact on select industries, like construction and shipping⁷. And that's a point that was made to be - made to me by Yakov Grigoriev, who works in logistics here.

YAKOV GRIGORIEV: (Non-English language spoken).

MAYNES: So here, Grigoriev says the ban means it costs more to transport goods. And it takes longer because the only choice is to send everything from Russia across the Baltic Sea now. You know, meanwhile, others I talked to say, look; we want good relations with our neighbors. But this is an unfriendly act against Kaliningrad in particular. And some long-time residents, like Alexander Sokolov, have theories why.

ALEXANDER SOKOLOV: (Non-English language spoken).

MAYNES: So Sokolov here says that friends in Lithuania tell him their media portray⁸ Russia as about to attack their country. And he says that couldn't be further from the truth. But by building conflict with Russia, he argues, the authorities in Lithuania can attract additional money and support from the EU and NATO.

MARTIN: So what is Russia going to do?

MAYNES: Well, you know, the Kremlin is issuing not so vague threats against Lithuania. Local officials here have a more nuanced take, you know? They say, yes, Lithuania's actions are an inconvenience. But they can work around them by expanding overseas shipping with more boats.

MARTIN: OK. So if we take a step back here, what does this move by Lithuania mean in the bigger picture when we think about Russian aggression⁹ into Ukraine and any potential threats into the Baltic states and Europe?

MAYNES: Yeah. On the one hand, it looks like it's an isolated¹⁰ incident, right? Lithuanian officials say, look; most goods, at least for now, can still pass through Kaliningrad, as they always have. They're just enforcing EU sanctions policy. Less clear is whether the EU entirely¹¹ agrees, you know? Amid these tensions, the EU is now suggesting they create a carve-out for goods going to Kaliningrad. Meanwhile, Lithuania says it's suddenly facing cyberattacks and bomb threats. We've also seen Russia carrying out drills among its Baltic Sea fleet. And until this issue of transit¹² goods to Kaliningrad is resolved, the problem is just another among many that could trigger an unintended conflict between NATO and Russia.

MARTIN: NPR's Charles Maynes in Kaliningrad. Thank you so much.

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 retaliate   

v.报复，反击

参考例句：

• He sought every opportunity to retaliate against his enemy.他找机会向他的敌人反击。
• It is strictly forbidden to retaliate against the quality inspectors.严禁对质量检验人员进行打击报复。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

5 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

6 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。

7 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

8 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

9 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。

10 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

11 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

12 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。