美国国家公共电台 NPR--Biden makes an unannounced trip to Kyiv and offers more support to Ukraine

Biden makes an unannounced trip to Kyiv and offers more support to Ukraine

Transcript¹

President Biden made a historic visit to Ukraine's capital on Monday to mark almost a year since Russia's invasion. Biden met with Ukraine's President Zelenskyy during the visit.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

President Joe Biden made an unannounced and audacious visit to Ukraine's capital on Monday to mark almost a year since Russia's invasion. NPR's Joanna Kakissis was with Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during that surprise visit, and she's with us on the line now. Hi, Joanna.

JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE²: Hi, Leila.

FADEL: So tell us about this visit. What did President Biden and President Zelenskyy do?

KAKISSIS: So the two men met at the presidential palace, which is this beautiful, ornate building with chandeliers. It's a building the public can't get anywhere near to. It's under very strict security. The neighborhood has been locked down since the beginning of the war. Biden wore a dark blue suit with a blue and yellow tie, the colors of Ukraine. Zelenskyy wore his signature army green sweatsuit. But, you know, there was also news. President Biden announced half a billion dollars in additional aid to Ukraine. And he promised more sanctions on Russia, with details to be announced in the coming days. The visit was largely symbolic³. It comes almost a year after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Biden seemed to revel⁴ in the fact that Ukraine and Kyiv have defied the odds⁵ by surviving and that Ukraine's Western allies have stuck together to help Ukraine.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. As you know, Mr. President - I said to you in the beginning - he's counting on us not sticking together. He thought he could outlast⁶ us. I don't think he's thinking that right now.

KAKISSIS: And, Leila, the two men also walked around St. Michael's Cathedral. And while they were inside, an air raid siren rang out, and it's a sign that the city, as calm as it seems most of the time, is still a target in this war.

FADEL: Yeah. What's the significance of the U.S. president showing up in Ukraine now?

KAKISSIS: So the takeaway is like - the biggest thing is a symbolic show of support, as I mentioned, and especially as the year anniversary approaches. The U.S. has made the biggest contribution to Ukraine's ability to fight back against Russia. And by most measures, this seems to have worked. This time one year ago, people thought Kyiv would fall in a matter of days, just as I mentioned earlier. Now it's safe enough for President Biden to visit.

FADEL: Wow.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

BIDEN: One year later, Kyiv stands, and Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you.

KAKISSIS: And, you know, Leila, lots of foreign leaders have visited Ukraine, but Biden had not, and so this is very symbolic and a huge deal for Ukraine.

FADEL: Did anyone expect the visit?

KAKISSIS: So the White House kept a very, very tight lid on Biden's visit here. The president traveled with just one reporter and photographer and just a few officials, rather than his usual pool of reporters. But there was clearly something going on this morning. When I left my house at 7 a.m. to wait for President Biden and President Zelenskyy, I saw police and police barricades⁷ everywhere on nearly every corner. I was even stopped trying to get a cup of coffee from a kiosk. They're like, what are you doing here? I heard Ukrainians wondering who the heck is in town? Is it some foreign dignitary? 'Cause, you know, they didn't think it was going to be Biden because the White House had said no.

So Zelenskyy did hint a few days ago that he was going to see his good friend Biden, and as a master communicator, he knew how significant a visit from Biden would look to Ukrainians. Here he is speaking through an interpreter.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: (Through interpreter) This is really the most important visit of the whole history of Ukraine-U.S. relationship and this most difficult period for Ukraine, when Ukraine is fighting for our own liberty, for the liberties of the world.

KAKISSIS: So President Biden has now left, and he's headed to Poland. After this, he gives a big speech in Warsaw tomorrow.

FADEL: NPR's Joanna Kakissis in Kyiv. Thank you.

KAKISSIS: You're welcome, Leila.

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 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。

3 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。

4 revel   

vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢

参考例句：

• She seems to revel in annoying her parents.她似乎以惹父母生气为乐。
• The children revel in country life.孩子们特别喜欢乡村生活。

5 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

6 outlast   

v.较…耐久

参考例句：

• The great use of life is to spend it doing something that will outlast it.人生的充分利用就是为争取比人生更长久的东西而度过一生。
• These naturally dried flowers will outlast a bouquet of fresh blooms.这些自然风干的花会比一束鲜花更加持久。

7 barricades   

路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The police stormed the barricades the demonstrators had put up. 警察冲破了示威者筑起的街垒。
• Others died young, in prison or on the barricades. 另一些人年轻时就死在监牢里或街垒旁。