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texts for sight translation. TEXT 1. The U. S. Sanctions Bill is a Win for Russia. TEXT 2. Putin’s Russia, Punching Above its Weight, Keeps Adversaries off balance
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TEXTS FOR SIGHT TRANSLATION
TEXT 1. The U. S. Sanctions Bill Is a Win for Russia
The U. S. sanctions bill, designed to hurt Russia, may have unintended consequences for the United States. As currently written, it will not only continue to penalize Russia but will also penalize American and European businesses because of its restrictions on energy projects that involve Russian companies. Specifically, the bill seeks to prevent the construction of the Nord Stream Two gas pipeline that would export Russian gas under the Baltic Sea to Europe. Germany supports the pipeline as the most cost-effective way to meet future gas demand, as do most—but certainly not all—of its EU partners. Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, has warned that the sanction bill “could have unintended unilateral effects that impact the EU's energy security interests. ” He added that “if our concerns are not taken into account sufficiently, we stand ready to act appropriately within a matter of days. ” Moreover, German officials— echoed by Russians—have suggested that real agenda behind the sanctions is to boost U. S. natural gas exports to Europe.
Number of characters – 905 July 28, 2017, National Interest
TEXT 2. Putin’s Russia, Punching Above Its Weight, Keeps Adversaries Off Balance
Bid farewell by Mr. Yeltsin on the steps of the Kremlin with a melancholy request that he “take care of Russia, ” Mr. Putin appeared on television a few hours later to deliver his first New Year Eve’s address to the nation, vowing to “protect freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of the mass media, ownership rights, these fundamental elements of a civilized society. ”
He delivered much the same message a year and a half later in a historic speech, the first by a Russian leader, in the Reichstag in Berlin, sketching a vision of Russia as inextricably bound to Europe and its values.
By 2002, however, he was already growing weary of Russia being viewed as a supplicant junior partner. Bitterly disillusioned with the West on security issues, in 2007 Mr. Putin delivered a speech in Munich bristling with resentment and anger at American unilateralism and disregard for Russian opposition to the expansion of NATO. “They bring us to the abyss of one conflict after another, ” he said, creating such insecurity that “nobody feels safe. ”
Number of characters -873 Dec. 23, 2019, NYT
TEXT 3. RUSSIA
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), among the key weapons in Russia’s inventory are 334 intercontinental ballistic missiles; 2, 750 main battle tanks; and more than 5, 140 armored infantry fighting vehicles, more than 6, 100 armored personnel carriers, and more than 4, 342 pieces of artillery. The navy has one aircraft carrier; 58 submarines (including 10 ballistic missile submarines ); four cruisers; 16 d estroyers; 14 frigates; and 105 patrol and coastal combatants. The air force has 1, 223 combat-capable aircraft. The IISS counts 280, 000 members of the army. Russia also has a total reserve force of 2, 000, 000 for all armed forces. Russian deep-sea research vessels include converted ballistic missile submarines, which hold smaller auxiliary submarines that can operate on the ocean floor.
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Number of characters – 727 October 20, 2019, Heritage
TEXT 4. Geopolitics Abhors a Vacuum
As the U. S. recedes, Russia advances. In the wake of the Suleimani drone strike, Russian President Vladimir Putin is crisscrossing the Middle East, meeting with Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad, and stopping in Ankara to broker a cease-fire in Libya.
Nature, they say, abhors a vacuum. So too does geopolitics. And so, Putin steps forward as America steps back. Russia runs the show in northern Syria. Assad stands unchallenged – given a second life by Russian backing. Syria is now, if we speak freely, a protectorate of Russia.
Russia seeks a naval base with access to the Mediterranean. Syria provides it. Russia seeks air force bases in the region. Syria provides them. Beyond Syria, the Russians systematically widen their influence, becoming a regional power broker. Egypt holds joint exercises with Russia. In Turkey, nominally a member of NATO, Russian influence increases as America’s influence on Ankara ebbs. Saudi leaders welcome Putin. In Geneva, the fate of Syria is decided. At the table: foreign ministers from Turkey, Iran and Russia.
Number of characters – 884 Jan. 24, 2020, Real Clear Defense
TEXT 5. Risks and Opportunities
The Arctic as a potential area of military tension is fraught with risks. This is especially true today as Arctic security does not work in a vacuum and is no longer protected from global security challenges, especially because of the impact of climate change and from strained relations between Russia and the West. Upholding “low tension” in the High North and keeping the Arctic an exceptional area of practical cooperation require continued willingness to do so.
The military imbalance in the Arctic is compounded by the fact that NATO, its Nordic allies and Russia have not (yet) properly defined hard-security “ rules of the road” in the High North. This in turn heightens the risk of miscalculation and the potential for tactical errors, especially since increased human activity caused by climate change will undoubtedly lead to more incidents at sea. This is true for both civilian and military activities.
Several opportunities can help mitigate the aforementioned risks.
Number of characters – 825 Jan22, 2020, Russia matters
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