NATO Preview Military Response -- USAGM
Metadata
- NATO Preview Military Response -- USAGM
- March 23, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English NATO Preview Military Response (TV) HEADLINE: NATO Summit: Growing Calls for Tougher Military Response to Russia TEASER: Former NATO officials say alliance could take on greater risk in countering Russia, but Western leaders voice caution PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 03/23/2022 at: 7:48 am BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Brussels VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell VIDEO EDITOR: Henry Ridgwell PRODUCER: Henry Hernandez SCRIPT EDITORS: Holly Franko, Reifenrath, DJ (ok) VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Teams, APTN, Reuters PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 2:54 VID APPROVED BY: BR TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[NATO leaders meet in Brussels today (Thursday) for an extraordinary summit on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As Henry Ridgwell reports from NATO headquarters, calls are growing for the West to take stronger military action in support of Ukraine.]] ((NARRATOR)) The civilian toll of Russia’s invasion grows by the day. If the killing continues, the West will have a moral obligation to get involved, says Fabrice Pothier, a former head of policy planning at NATO. ((Fabrice Pothier, Former NATO Policy Planning Director)) ((Via Teams-no courtesy needed)) “We could prevent those massacres and those possible deaths if NATO were to be willing to actually take on a little bit more risk.” ((NARRATOR)) What could that risk involve? Pothier says NATO could effectively blockade Russia. ((Fabrice Pothier, Former NATO Policy Planning Director)) “I think we should control more access on the Baltic and the Black Seas. Especially the Baltic — it’s critical to Russian trade. Seventy percent of Russian trade goes via the Baltic. Obviously, they will not let that happen easily, but I think we are geared, we have the plans, we have the capabilities to do so.” ((NARRATOR)) NATO should play Russia at its own game, says Pothier. ((Fabrice Pothier, Former NATO Policy Planning Director)) “We can do much more in terms of basically cyber operations, so the hybrid-type warfare which Putin has been associated with for some years but where actually we also have assets, in order to disrupt the Putin war machine.” ((NARRATOR)) U.S. President Joe Biden last week announced an additional 800 million dollars in security assistance for Ukraine — including Stinger anti-aircraft systems and armed drones. Former U.S. ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker — also the U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations until 2019 — says more weapons are needed. ((Kurt Volker, Former US Ambassador to NATO)) “More air defense systems, including those that operate at higher altitudes. More shore-to-ship systems to take out some of the Russian naval ships in the Black Sea. I do believe that the MiG-29s and other fighter aircraft should be provided, but we're not quite there yet. I understand the arguments against the no-fly zone, but I think we should not take it off the table.” ((NARRATOR)) Volker says the supply of military equipment to Ukraine needs improved coordination. ((Kurt Volker, Former US Ambassador to NATO)) “NATO could provide something of a clearinghouse function, and it could provide an assurance of delivery by creating a safe place for that in Poland and ensuring that it arrives successfully in Ukraine.” ((NARRATOR)) Western leaders fear any escalation could lead to direct confrontation between NATO and Russian forces — and a conflict between nuclear-armed powers. But some argue NATO must take on more risk now — or face a far greater threat if Russia succeeds in capturing Ukraine. ((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, at NATO headquarters in Brussels))
- Transcript/Script NATO Preview Military Response (TV) HEADLINE: NATO Summit: Growing Calls for Tougher Military Response to Russia TEASER: Former NATO officials say alliance could take on greater risk in countering Russia, but Western leaders voice caution PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 03/23/2022 at: 7:48 am BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Brussels VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell VIDEO EDITOR: Henry Ridgwell PRODUCER: Henry Hernandez SCRIPT EDITORS: Holly Franko, Reifenrath, DJ (ok) VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Teams, APTN, Reuters PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 2:54 VID APPROVED BY: BR TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[NATO leaders meet in Brussels today (Thursday) for an extraordinary summit on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As Henry Ridgwell reports from NATO headquarters, calls are growing for the West to take stronger military action in support of Ukraine.]] ((NARRATOR)) The civilian toll of Russia’s invasion grows by the day. If the killing continues, the West will have a moral obligation to get involved, says Fabrice Pothier, a former head of policy planning at NATO. ((Fabrice Pothier, Former NATO Policy Planning Director)) ((Via Teams-no courtesy needed)) “We could prevent those massacres and those possible deaths if NATO were to be willing to actually take on a little bit more risk.” ((NARRATOR)) What could that risk involve? Pothier says NATO could effectively blockade Russia. ((Fabrice Pothier, Former NATO Policy Planning Director)) “I think we should control more access on the Baltic and the Black Seas. Especially the Baltic — it’s critical to Russian trade. Seventy percent of Russian trade goes via the Baltic. Obviously, they will not let that happen easily, but I think we are geared, we have the plans, we have the capabilities to do so.” ((NARRATOR)) NATO should play Russia at its own game, says Pothier. ((Fabrice Pothier, Former NATO Policy Planning Director)) “We can do much more in terms of basically cyber operations, so the hybrid-type warfare which Putin has been associated with for some years but where actually we also have assets, in order to disrupt the Putin war machine.” ((NARRATOR)) U.S. President Joe Biden last week announced an additional 800 million dollars in security assistance for Ukraine — including Stinger anti-aircraft systems and armed drones. Former U.S. ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker — also the U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations until 2019 — says more weapons are needed. ((Kurt Volker, Former US Ambassador to NATO)) “More air defense systems, including those that operate at higher altitudes. More shore-to-ship systems to take out some of the Russian naval ships in the Black Sea. I do believe that the MiG-29s and other fighter aircraft should be provided, but we're not quite there yet. I understand the arguments against the no-fly zone, but I think we should not take it off the table.” ((NARRATOR)) Volker says the supply of military equipment to Ukraine needs improved coordination. ((Kurt Volker, Former US Ambassador to NATO)) “NATO could provide something of a clearinghouse function, and it could provide an assurance of delivery by creating a safe place for that in Poland and ensuring that it arrives successfully in Ukraine.” ((NARRATOR)) Western leaders fear any escalation could lead to direct confrontation between NATO and Russian forces — and a conflict between nuclear-armed powers. But some argue NATO must take on more risk now — or face a far greater threat if Russia succeeds in capturing Ukraine. ((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, at NATO headquarters in Brussels))
- NewsML Media Topics Conflict, War and Peace
- Topic Tags NATO
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date March 23, 2022 15:13 EDT
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English