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((ANCHOR))
[[A harsh blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the U.S. has now completed its final step in ratifying NATO’s expansion to include Sweden and Finland. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb reports on the most significant expansion of the military alliance in more than two decades, which now needs just seven more countries for completion.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUS – RUSSIA – UKRAINE Aug 9 (TV)
HEADLINE: US Moves Finland's, Sweden’s Accession to NATO a Step Closer
TEASER: The addition of Finland would expand the alliance's border with Russia by 1,300 kilometers
PUBLISHED AT: Tuesday 08/09/2022 at 9:33 p.m.
BYLINE: Carla Babb
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Pentagon
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Holly Franko
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:10
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: VPKGN
EDITOR NOTES:))
((ANCHOR))
[[A harsh blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the U.S. has now completed its final step in ratifying NATO’s expansion to include Sweden and Finland. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb reports on the most significant expansion of the military alliance in more than two decades, which now needs just seven more countries for completion.]]
((NARRATOR))
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday officially endorsing Finland's and Sweden’s accession to NATO, a direct response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
((President Joe Biden))
“And in a moment when Putin's Russia has shattered peace and security in Europe, when autocrats are challenging the very foundations of a rule-based order, the strength of the Transatlantic Alliance and America's commitment to NATO is more important than it has ever been.”
((NARRATOR))
The Finns and Swedes will add small but advanced militaries to the alliance, and Finland’s accession will expand NATO’s border with Russia by more than 1,300 kilometers, which Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Bradley Bowman says will directly affect Putin’s calculus.
((Bradley Bowman, Foundation for Defense of Democracies)) ((Teams; no courtesy))
“If you’re a Russian military planner or you’re Vladimir Putin and you’re contemplating aggression against NATO, and you’re planning to maybe do it in the Black Sea region or somewhere else, or even in the Baltics, you have to be wondering what could be coming at you from Finland if you do that.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: US Department of Defense))
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited American troops in the Baltic nation of Latvia a day after the U.S. announced a new $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, the largest drawdown of U.S. military stockpiles for Kyiv to date.
Russia has caused heavy casualties for Ukrainian forces, but the Pentagon says Ukraine continues to effectively use weapons provided by the West, with Russia losing 3,000 to 4,000 armored vehicles in Ukraine and even more troops.
((Colin Kahl, US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy))
“There's a lot of fog in war. But you know, I think it's safe to suggest that the Russians are probably taking 70 or 80,000 casualties in less than six months now.”
((NARRATOR))
More graves in Bucha this week, as citizens buried unidentified victims months after Russia’s occupation.
Smoke bellowed from a Russian base in Crimea Tuesday morning after a loud explosion.
Crimea’s governor said one person was killed in the blast.
A senior Ukrainian military official says Ukraine was behind the attack, as Russia claims the explosion was from its own detonation of ammunition on the base.
((CARLA BABB, VOA NEWS, WASHINGTON))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline) Pentagon
Embargo DateAugust 10, 2022 22:12 EDT
Byline
((CARLA BABB, VOA NEWS, WASHINGTON))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
