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Transcript/ScriptWashington Week Ahead
HEADLINE: US Reduces Embassy Staff, Tells Americans: Get Out of Ukraine
TEASER: US president warns Russian counterpart of “swift and severe costs” if Russia invades Ukraine
PUBLISHED AT: 02/13/2022 at 3:13 pm
BYLINE: Arash Arabasadi
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: AFP/ RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY/ ABC “THIS WEEK”/ TWITTER/ “STATE OF THE UNION”/ AFP PHOTO – THE WHITE HOSUE
PRODUCER: Arash Arabasadi
SCRIPT EDITORS: caw;sv
NOTE:
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AFP/ RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY/ ABC “THIS WEEK”/ TWITTER/ “STATE OF THE UNION”/ AFP PHOTO – THE WHITE HOSUE
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:03
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE:
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO))
[[The White House ordered U.S. military trainers out of Ukraine in the same week it reduced embassy personnel there to “bare bones” ((minimal)). With at least 100-thousand Russian troops encircling Ukraine, Washington says an invasion could be “any day now.” VOA’s Arash Arabasadi has the story. ]]
((VAR, JOINT DRILLS, BELARUS, AFP/RUSSIAN DEFENSE, 02/12))
((mandatory cg Russian Defense Ministry))
((NATS POP: ROCKETS))
((NARRATOR))
Russian and Belarusian forces take part in joint military drills in Belarus. Ukraine’s neighbor to the north is now one of the staging grounds for at least 100,000 Russian troops amassed along the border with Ukraine. Russia maintains it has no intention of invading Ukraine, but top U.S. officials warn otherwise.
[RADIO TRACK: National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union”.]
((Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser))
((mandatory cg TWITTER / “STATE OF THE UNION”))
“The way they have built up their forces ((and)) the way they have maneuvered things in place, makes it a distinct possibility that there will be major military action very soon. And we are prepared to continue working on diplomacy, but we are also prepared to
respond in a united and decisive way with our allies and partners should Russia proceed.”
((BIDEN ON CALL W/ PUTIN, AFP PHOTO, 0212))
((mandatory cg AFP PHOTO – THE WHITE HOUSE))
((ANIMATED TWEET FROM WH, AFP))
((NARRATOR))
U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin Saturday spoke by phone, and the White House tweeted Biden’s warning of “swift and severe” cost if Russia invades its neighbor. The phone call reportedly did little to ease tensions. U.S. lawmakers have voiced concern about the situation.
[RADIO TRACK: Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on ABC’s “This Week” warned of lasting damage should Russia invade.]
((Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican))
((mandatory cg ABC “This Week”))
“This is not the last president America will have. If Russia invades the Ukraine, you will destroy the U.S.-Russia relationship for decades, and every president in the near term will be put in a box when it comes to dealing with Russia. So I hope Putin understands that.”
((VAR, WARSHIPS, BLACK SEA, AFP/RUSSIAN DEFENSE, 02/12))
((mandatory cg Russian Defense Ministry))
((NARRATOR))
While the Kremlin says it has no plans to invade Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry released this video and said more than 30 ships from its Black Sea fleet recently set sail to practice naval maneuvers.
((VAR, BORDER GUARDS, EASTERN UKRAINE, AFP, 02/12))
((NARRATOR))
Just a short trip north to the Sea of Azov, there’s a small contingent of east Ukrainian border guards in small ships; they are no match for the Russian navy. Ukraine lost much of its navy when Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014.
((VAR, US EMBASSY, KYIV, AFP, 01/24))
((VAR, 82ND DEPLOY, FORT BRAGG, NC, AFP, 02/08))
((NARRATOR))
The United States pulled most embassy personnel from Kyiv and issued warnings to Americans to get out of Ukraine. The White House also pulled the troops who’d been training Ukrainian forces, reportedly reassigning them within Europe where, according to the Department of Defense, they’ll soon be joined by another three-thousand troops from the 82nd Airborne Division.
Arash Arabasadi, VOA News
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace, Politics, Environment, Disaster, Accident and Emergency Incident, Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 13, 2022 15:51 EST
BylineArash Arabasadi
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
