Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Risky bets: On Russia, Ukraine and hopes of a diplomatic solution

Risky bets: On Russia, Ukraine and hopes of a diplomatic solution

Russia should do more to reduce tensions (तनाव, दबाव, बेचैनी) along its border with Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s comment (टिप्पणी, राय, दृष्टिकोण), after receiving a written response from Washington to Moscow’s security demands, that ‘Russia doesn’t want wars’ raises hopes of a diplomatic (कूटनीतिक, राजनयिक) solution to the Ukraine crisis. Last week saw a flurry (घबराहट) of diplomatic activities aimed at de-escalating the situation. Besides (के अतिरिक्त भी, के अलावा) the U.S.’s written response to Russia, which could set the stage for (prepare the circumstances for the beginning of something) further diplomatic talks (discussion, dialogue, negotiation, meeting) in the coming weeks, French President Emmanuel Macron has held talks with his Russian counterpart (समकक्ष) Vladimir Putin. Mr. Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are also reportedly (कथित तौर पर, माना जाता है, प्रतीत होता है) trying to revive (पुनर्जीवित, वापस लाना, फिर से स्थापित करना) the stalled Minsk (the capital of Belarus) process that sought to find a peaceful solution to Ukraine’s internal conflict (war, armed conflict, battle, fighting) between Kiev (the capital of Ukraine) and the Russia-backed (supported by the Russian government) separatists (संप्रदायवादी, असंतुष्ट, गैर-अनुरूपतावादी) in the eastern Donbas region. Mr. Putin has said the U.S. response does not address (tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out) Russia’s core security concerns. Fears of a military conflict are still there. Russia, which has mobilised ((of resources) bring together for a specific cause) thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine, in Belarus in Ukraine’s north and in Transnistria (an unrecognised breakaway state located in the narrow strip of land between the river Dniester and the Moldovan–Ukrainian border that is internationally recognised as part of Moldova. Its capital and largest city is Tiraspol) (a breakaway (separatist, secessionist, dissenting, splinter (group/party)) region from Moldova) in its south-west, has a clear military advantage. But the West’s willingness (इच्छा, उत्सुकता) to press ahead (continue, proceed (in one’s activity/effort)) with diplomatic options and Russia’s reciprocity (पारस्परिकता, आदान-प्रदान) suggest that neither side is in a hurry (जल्दी से) for armed conflict (सशस्त्र लड़ाई, युद्ध).

There is a strong case for de-escalation (reduction, lessening, decrease (the intensity of something)). Mr. Putin has already achieved many things, without a shot being fired. He has got the Western leadership to talk to him over the contested (विवादित, विरोध) issue of NATO’s expansion, which Russia has long been complaining about. By putting a gun to Ukraine’s head, he has effectively drawn a red line (boundary, limit) in Russia’s relations with the West. Also, as the U.S. and its allies are scrambling (struggle, hurry/hasten, rush (to do something to achieve a goal/result)) for economic measures to punish Russia “if it invades (occupy, conquer, capture, seize, take over; intrude, violate, encroach, infringe, trespass, obtrude) Ukraine”, the 2014 Russian annexation (conquest, occupation, takeover) of Crimea (a peninsula along the northern coast of the Black Sea in Eastern Europe. The peninsula is almost entirely surrounded by both the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. The status of Crimea is disputed. It is claimed by Ukraine and in 2014 was recognized as Ukrainian by the United Nations and most other countries, but it is governed by Russia. Russia formally annexed Crimea on 18 March 2014) and Moscow’s continued support for separatists inside Ukraine have practically  become non-issues. Nobody is threatening to punish Russia for not returning Crimea to Ukraine. The status quo (the present situation, the current state, the existing state of affairs) has been redrawn. Besides, the U.S. has said it is open to discuss some of Russia’s security concerns, including missile (a weapon (capable of self-propelled flight) that is thrown at a target or shot usually by a jet engine or rocket motor) deployments in Eastern Europe and military exercises ((military) drill or training) in sensitive (delicate, subtle, careful, diplomatic, thoughtful; responsive to, quick to respond to, reactive to (slight changes/differences)) regions. Russia should accept the U.S. proposals, de-escalate (diminish, lessen/decrease, dwindle (the intensity of a conflict)) the crisis around Ukraine and opt for more dialogue (discussion, conversation, talk, exchange of views, discourse) on critical issues, including NATO’s eastward expansion. If it still goes ahead with an attack, which U.S. President Joe Biden said could happen, it could well be a mistake. Russia might be in a position to overrun (invade, occupy, overwhelm, swamp, spread over (a place in large numbers)) Ukraine militarily, but what comes next in Europe’s largest country is as unpredictable as it can get. If the post-9/11 military adventures (exploit, deed, feat, experience, event) of the U.S. are any lesson, it is that great powers (a country that has a great international influence, resources, and military strength) could clinch swift (rapid, quick, prompt) victories against weaker countries but could fail miserably in sustaining those victories. Mr. Putin should not walk into (get involved in something carelessly) the same mistake and thereby (as a result of that) push Europe back into the darker days of the Cold War (a state of political and military tension between two countries, especially superpowers (i.e. the U.S. and Russia/U.S. and China)).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.bet (noun)

Hindi Meaning - शर्त, दांव, बाजी
English Meaning - option, choice, alternative, course of action, plan.

2.diplomatic (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कूटनीतिक, राजनयिक
English Meaning - tactful, sensitive, subtle, delicate; consular, foreign-policy.

3.tensions (noun)

Hindi Meaning - तनाव, दबाव, बेचैनी
English Meaning - strained relations; strain, stress, pressure, unease.

4.comment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - टिप्पणी, राय, दृष्टिकोण
English Meaning - remark, opinion, view, statement.

5.flurry (noun)

Hindi Meaning - घबराहट
English Meaning - spate, series, succession.

6.besides (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - के अतिरिक्त भी, के अलावा
English Meaning - in addition, furthermore, moreover, further.

7.counterpart (noun)

Hindi Meaning - समकक्ष
English Meaning - someone or something that has the same job or purpose as another; equivalent, equal, fellow.

8.reportedly (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - कथित तौर पर, माना जाता है, प्रतीत होता है
English Meaning - supposedly, seemingly, apparently, professedly, ostensibly, purportedly.

9.revive (verb)

Hindi Meaning - पुनर्जीवित, वापस लाना, फिर से स्थापित करना
English Meaning - bring back, re-establish, restore.

10.separatist (noun/adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संप्रदायवादी, असंतुष्ट, गैर-अनुरूपतावादी
English Meaning - dissident, nonconformist, sectarian.

11.willingness (noun)

Hindi Meaning - इच्छा, उत्सुकता
English Meaning - readiness, preparedness, disposition, inclination.

12.reciprocity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पारस्परिकता, आदान-प्रदान
English Meaning - exchange, trade-off, swap/switch, return.

13.in a hurry (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - जल्दी से
English Meaning - in a rushed/quick/hurried manner.

14.armed conflict (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सशस्त्र लड़ाई, युद्ध
English Meaning - warfare, war, fighting, combat.

15.contested (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विवादित, विरोध, 
English Meaning - opposed, disputed.

16.de-escalate (verb)

English Meaning - diminish, lessen/decrease, dwindle (the intensity of a conflict).

17.set the stage for (phrase)

English Meaning - prepare the circumstances for the beginning of something.

18.talks (noun)

English Meaning - discussion, dialogue, negotiation, meeting.

19.stall (verb)

English Meaning - obstruct, block, interrupt, stop, halt, restrict.

20.Minsk (proper noun)

English Meaning - the capital of Belarus.

21.Minsk Protocol/Accord (noun)

English Meaning - the Minsk Protocol (later known as Minsk-1) with the Minsk Memorandum of September 2014 and the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements (Minsk-2) are agreements between Ukraine and Russia to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine (eastern Donbass region). The Minsk Protocol (Minsk-1) failed within days of its signing on 5 September, 2014. Four months later Minsk-2 was signed on February 12, 2015 to revive the peace efforts featured by Minsk-1. Minsk-2 is basically a more detailed Minsk-1 agreement. Minsk-2 didn’t replace the first agreement, but it was intended to revive the Minsk-1 after its collapse.

22.sought past tense of seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, aim, attempt.

23.conflict (noun)

English Meaning - war, armed conflict, battle, fighting.

24.Kiev (proper noun)

English Meaning - the capital of Ukraine.

25.Russia-backed (adjective)

English Meaning - supported by the Russian government.

26.address (verb)

English Meaning - tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out.

27.mobilise (verb)

English Meaning - (of resources) bring together for a specific cause.

28.Transnistria (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic) (noun)

English Meaning - an unrecognised breakaway state located in the narrow strip of land between the river Dniester and the Moldovan–Ukrainian border that is internationally recognised as part of Moldova. Its capital and largest city is Tiraspol.

29.breakaway (noun as modifier)

English Meaning - separatist, secessionist, dissenting, splinter (group/party).

30.the West (noun)

English Meaning - The Western world/civilization consisting of the majority of Europe & the North America.

31.press ahead/on (verb)

English Meaning - continue, proceed (in one’s activity/effort).

32.armed (adjective)

English Meaning - using firearms.

33.de-escalation (noun)

English Meaning - reduction, lessening, decrease (the intensity of something).

34.North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (noun)

English Meaning - NATO was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.

35.put/hold a gun to someone’s head (phrase)

English Meaning - to pressurize/threaten someone to do something.

36.red line (noun)

English Meaning - boundary, limit.

37.ally (noun)

English Meaning - a country/state with an alliance with another one in which they promise to support each other militarily and to defend each other.

38.scramble (verb)

English Meaning - struggle, hurry/hasten, rush (to do something to achieve a goal/result).

39.measure (noun)

English Meaning - action, step, procedure.

40.invade (verb)

English Meaning - occupy, conquer, capture, seize, take over; intrude, violate, encroach, infringe, trespass, obtrude.

41.annexation (noun)

English Meaning - conquest, occupation, takeover.

42.Crimea (noun)

English Meaning - a peninsula along the northern coast of the Black Sea in Eastern Europe. The peninsula is almost entirely surrounded by both the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. The status of Crimea is disputed. It is claimed by Ukraine and in 2014 was recognized as Ukrainian by the United Nations and most other countries, but it is governed by Russia. Russia formally annexed Crimea on 18 March 2014.

43.non-issue (noun)

English Meaning - a subject of no importance.

44.status quo (noun)

English Meaning - the present situation, the current state, the existing state of affairs.

45.missile (noun)

English Meaning - a weapon (capable of self-propelled flight) that is thrown at a target or shot usually by a jet engine or rocket motor.

46.deployment (noun)

English Meaning - the act of employing forces/troops into effective action.

47.exercise (noun)

English Meaning - (military) drill or training.

48.sensitive (adjective)

English Meaning - delicate, subtle, careful, diplomatic, thoughtful; responsive to, quick to respond to, reactive to (slight changes/differences).

49.opt for (verb)

English Meaning - choose, select, take, decide on.

50.dialogue (noun)

English Meaning - discussion, conversation, talk, exchange of views, discourse.

51.go ahead (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to proceed, to continue to do something, to start/begin to do something.

52.overrun (verb)

English Meaning - invade, occupy, overwhelm, swamp, spread over (a place in large numbers).

53.adventure (noun)

English Meaning - exploit, deed, feat, experience, event.

54.great power (noun)

English Meaning - a country that has a great international influence, resources, and military strength.

55.clinch (verb)

English Meaning - win, triumph in, achieve success in, be successful in.

56.swift (adjective)

English Meaning - rapid, quick, prompt.

57.miserably (adverb)

English Meaning - terribly.

58.sustain (verb)

English Meaning - continue, carry on, keep up, maintain, bolster up.

59.walk into (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - get involved in something carelessly.

60.thereby (adverb)

English Meaning - as a result of that.

61.the Cold War (noun)

English Meaning - The Cold War was a state of political and military tension after World War II between powers in the Western Bloc (the United States and a group of countries) and powers in the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and a group of countries).

62.cold war (noun)

English Meaning - a state of political and military tension between two countries, especially superpowers (i.e. the U.S. and Russia/U.S. and China).