拜登总统发表讲话谈俄罗斯和乌克兰局势的最新情况

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2022 年 2 月 18 日
罗斯福厅（Roosevelt Room）
美国东部标准时间下午4点54分
总统：下午好。今天我打了两个重要电话，就像几个月以来一直在做的一样——两个有关俄罗斯和乌克兰局势的重要电话。
第一个是打给目前同副总统哈里斯一道代表美国出席慕尼黑安全会议 (Munich Security Conference) 的一组国会两党议员。
第二个电话是打给我们的北约盟国和欧盟首脑，这是好几个月以来一直进行的一系列电话通话的最新一次，目的是让他们知道美国对当前事态的一些看法以及未来几天内乌克兰很可能发生的情况，以确保我们持续与欧盟和北约保持步调一致。
尽管俄罗斯企图在国内外给我们制造分裂，但我可以肯定他们并未得逞。这两个电话所传达的强有力信息都是团结、决意和决心。我与所有参加电话会议的人士分享了我们所知的乌克兰危机迅速升级的情况。
在过去的几天里，我们看到一些报道说，俄罗斯支持的武装力量在顿巴斯 (Donbas) 地区违反停火协议的行动大幅度增加，试图对乌克兰进行挑衅。例如，就在昨天，乌克兰的一所幼儿园遭到炮击，俄罗斯谎称这是乌克兰所为。我们还不断看到，向俄罗斯公众（包括俄罗斯支持的分离主义分子在内）散布的虚假信息日益增多，声称乌克兰计划在顿巴斯地区发动大规模进攻。
但是，这些指称根本毫无任何证据，而且这违背——相信乌克兰会选择在这样一个边境遭陈兵15万以上的时刻把长达一年之久的冲突升级——这是违背基本逻辑的。
俄罗斯官方媒体还继续散布虚假指控，说顿巴斯地区发生了种族灭绝事件，并且毫无证据地发出捏造的有关乌克兰要袭击俄罗斯的警告。我确信这正是乌克兰想要做的——攻击俄罗斯。
所有这一切都与俄罗斯以前使用的伎俩如出一辙：为对乌克兰采取行动寻找借口。这也与美国及其盟国和合作伙伴数周来一直就俄罗斯可能使用的借口所发出的警告完全一致。
在这些紧张时刻，乌克兰军队表现出了绝佳的判断力，我还要加上一点，克制力。他们拒绝上俄罗斯人的开战圈套。
但事实仍然是，俄罗斯军队目前已对乌克兰形成包围之势，从白俄罗斯，沿着俄罗斯与乌克兰的边界，到南部黑海——整个边界。
你们知道，我们有理由相信俄罗斯军队正计划并想要在接下来的一周——在未来几天内对乌克兰发动攻击。我们相信他们将把乌克兰首都基辅 (Kyiv) 作为攻击目标，这是一座拥有 280 万无辜百性的城市。
我们一再公开指明俄罗斯的计划，并非因为我们想要冲突，而是因为我们在竭尽全力消除俄罗斯可能用来入侵乌克兰的任何理由，阻止他们采取行动。
毋庸置疑，如果俄罗斯实施它的计划，它将为一场灾难性的、不必要的选择性战争 (war of choice) 承担责任。美国及其盟国已准备好保卫北约的每一寸领土，并使其免受对我们集体安全的任何威胁。
我们不会派兵到乌克兰作战，但我们会继续支持乌克兰人民。
去年，美国为加强乌克兰的防御力量向它提供了创纪录的安全援助—— 6.5 亿美元，包括标枪导弹 (Javelin missile) 和弹药等。
另外，我们之前还提供了 5 亿美元，用于对乌克兰的人道援助和经济支持。本周早些时候，我们还宣布提供多达 10 亿美元的额外主权贷款担保，以增强乌克兰的经济弹性。
但归根结底的一点是：美国及其盟国和合作伙伴将支持乌克兰人民。我们将对俄罗斯的行动追究责任。西方国家是团结一致和有决心的。如果俄罗斯进一步入侵乌克兰，我们随时将对俄罗斯实施严厉制裁。
但我再强调一遍：俄罗斯仍然可以选择外交途径。现在缓解局势和重返谈判桌还为时不晚。
昨晚，俄罗斯同意国务卿布林肯和拉夫罗夫外长于2月24日在欧洲会晤。
但是，如果俄罗斯在这一日期之前采取军事行动，那显然他们关闭了外交的大门。他们将选择战争，他们将为此付出高昂的代价。这一代价不仅仅是来自我们和我们的盟友将对俄罗斯实施的制裁，而且来自世界其它国家对他们的道义谴责。
要知道，我们国家和世界各国之间在很多问题上存在分歧，但是，在抵制俄罗斯侵略这个问题上是没有分歧的。美国人民是团结的。欧洲是团结的。跨大西洋共同体是团结的。我们国家的政党是团结的。整个自由世界是团结的。
是要战争及其招致的一切苦难，还是要外交及其带来的全体更安全的未来，俄罗斯要做出选择。
现在我将高兴回答几个问题。来自彭博社 (Bloomberg) 的南希，您请。
问：非常感谢您，先生。如果像美国所说的那样入侵已经迫在眉睫，您认为泽连斯基总统离开乌克兰是否是一个明智之举？
总统：这需要他自己做出判断，也要由他自己断定。
我与泽连斯基交谈过十几次，也许更多，我不知道。而且，在寻求外交解决方案的过程中，这可能不是错——这可能是一个明智的选择。但这是他的决定。
问：有无任何迹象可以表明普京总统已经做出入侵决定？您确信他还没有做出决定吗？
总统：到目前为止，我确信他已经做出了决定。我们有理由相信这一点。
问：似乎有一种共识，一种精神——在美国和欧洲之间——要实施某些制裁，全面的制裁。但是，是否每个国家都想实施与您想的完全一样的制裁？
总统：是的。会有一些细微的差异。但是没有——将只会有增加，不会有减少。
问：普京总统将于本周末监督一些核武演习。您如何看待这一情况？先生，您对此有何反应？谢谢。
总统：我不认为他有可能在考虑使用核武器。但我确实认为，我认为他所关注的是力图让世界相信他有能力改变欧洲的态势，而他是不可能的。
但是，我不——“我们只是进行演习”的说法有多少是为了掩饰，它不止于此，我不能——很难琢磨他的心思。
（交叉谈话）
问：需要澄清一点，澄清一点，您确信——
总统：我将——我将再回答几个问题。
问：您确信——您确信普京总统会入侵乌克兰吗？您刚才是不是这样说的？
总统：是的，我是这样说的。是的。
问：那么，外交手段是否已被搁置？
总统：不。总是有——直到他发动攻击，外交总是一种可能性。
问：您有什么理由相信他会对这个选择作任何考虑？
总统：我们拥有强大的情报收集能力。非常感谢各位。
美国东部标准时间下午 5点03分
 
欲查看原稿内容:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/02/18/remarks-by-president-biden-providing-an-update-on-russia-and-ukraine-2/
本译文仅供参考，只有英文原稿才可以被视为权威资料来源。

Remarks by President Biden Providing an Update on Russia and Ukraine

FEBRUARY 18, 2022•SPEECHES AND REMARKS
Roosevelt Room
4:54 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  Today, I made two vital calls, as I’ve been making for some months now — two vital calls that — on the situation in Russia and Ukraine.
The first was to a bipartisan group of members of Congress who are currently representing the United States, along with Vice President Harris at the Munich Security Conference.
The second was the latest in a series of calls over the past many months with the heads of state of our NATO Allies and the European Union to bring them up to date on what the United States thinks is the current state of affairs, and what’s likely to happen in Ukraine in the coming days, to ensure that we continue to remain in lockstep — that is the European Union and NATO.
Despite Russia’s efforts to divide us at home and abroad, I can affirm that has not happened.  The overwhelming message of both — on both calls was one of unity, determination, and resolve.  I shared with all of those on the calls what we know about a rapidly escalating crisis in Ukraine.
Over the last few days, we’ve seen reports of a major uptick in violations of the ceasefire by Russian-backed fighters attempting to provoke Ukraine in the Donbas.  For example, a shelling of a Ukrainian kindergarten yesterday, which Russia has falsely asserted was carried out by Ukraine.  We also continue to see more and more disinformation being pushed out by — to the Russian public, including the Russian-backed separatists, claiming that Ukraine is planning to launch a massive offensive attack in the Donbas.
Well, look, there is simply no evidence of these assertions, and it and devies [sic] — it defies basic logic to believe the Ukrainians would choose this moment, with well over 150,000 troops arrayed on its borders, to escalate a year-long conflict.
Russia state media also continues to make phony allegations of a genocide taking place in the Donbas and push fabricated claims warning about Ukraine’s attack on Russia without any evidence.  That’s just what I’m sure Ukraine is thinking of doing — attacking Russia.
All these are consistent with the playbook the Russians have used before: to set up a false justification to act against Ukraine.  This is also in line with the pretext scenarios that the United States and our Allies and partners have been warning about for weeks.
Throughout these tense moments, the Ukrainian forces have shown great judgment and, I might add, restraint.  They’ve refused to allow the Russians to bait them into war.
But the fact remains: Russian troops currently have Ukraine surrounded — from Belarus, along the Russian border with Ukraine, to the Black Sea in the south — and all of its border.
You know, look, we have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to and intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week — in the coming days.  We believe that they will target Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people.
We’re calling out Russia’s plans loudly and repeatedly, not because we want a conflict, but because we’re doing everything in our power to remove any reason that Russia may give to justify invading Ukraine and prevent them from moving.
Make no mistake: If Russia pursues its plans, it will be responsible for a catastrophic and needless war of choice.  The United States and our Allies are prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory from any threat to our collective security as well.
We also will not send troops in to fight in Ukraine, but we will continue to support the Ukrainian people.
This past year, the United States provided a record amount of security assistance to Ukraine to bolster its defensive — $650 million, from Javelin missiles to ammunition.
And we also previously provided $500 million in Ukrai- — in humanitarian aid and economic support for Ukraine.  And earlier this week, we also announced an additional sovereign loan guarantee of up to $1 billion to strengthen Ukraine’s economic resilience.
But the bottom line is this: The United States and our Allies and partners will support the Ukrainian people.  We will hold Russia accountable for its actions.  The West is united and resolved.  We’re ready to impose severe sanctions on Russia if it further invades Ukraine.
But I say again: Russia can still choose diplomacy.  It is not too late to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table.
Last night, Russia agreed that Secretary of State Blinken and Foreign Minister Lavrov should meet on Feb- — on February 24th — February 24th in Europe.
But if Russia takes military action before that date, it will be clear that they have slammed the door shut on diplomacy.  They will have — they will have chosen war, and they will pay a steep price for doing so — not only from the sanctions that we and our allies will impose on Russia, but the moral outrage that the rest of the world will visit upon them.
You know, there are many issues that divide our nation and our world, but standing up to Russian aggression is not one of them.  The American people are united.  Europe is united.  The transatlantic community is united.  Our political parties in this country are united.  The entire free world is united.
Russia has a choice between war and all the suffering it will bring or diplomacy that will make a future safer for everyone.
Now I’m happy to take a few questions.  Nancy from Bloomberg.
Q    Thank you so much, sir.  Do you think that it is wise for President Zelenskyy to leave Ukraine if an invasion is as imminent as the U.S. says it is?
THE PRESIDENT:  That’s a judgment for him to make and a determination as to whether or not.
I’ve spoken with Zelenskyy a dozen times — maybe more, I don’t know.  And — and it’s — and in the pursuit of a diplomatic solution, it may not be fal- — it may be the wise choice.  But it’s his decision.
Q    And do you have any indication about whether President Putin has made a decision on whether to invade?  Do you feel confident that he — that he hasn’t made that decision already?
THE PRESIDENT:  As of this moment, I’m convinced he’s made the decision.  We have reason to believe that.
Q    There seems to be a unanimity, a spirit to do — between the United States and Europe to do some sanctions — comprehensive sanctions.  But are — is everyone on board with the exact same sanctions that you want to do?
THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  There will be some slight differences, but none — there will be more add-ons than subtractions.
Q    And President Putin is going to oversee some nuclear drills this weekend.  How do you see that happening?  What’s your reaction to that, sir?  Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I don’t think he is remotely contemplating nuclear — using nuclear weapons.  But I do think it’s — I think he is focused on trying to convince the world that he has the ability to change the dynamics in Europe in a way that he cannot.
But I don’t — how much of it is a cover for just saying, “We’re just doing exercises” and there’s more than that, I just can’t — it’s hard to read his mind.
(Cross-talk.)
Q    To be clear — to be clear, you are convinced —
THE PRESIDENT:  I’ll — I’ll take some.
Q    — you are convinced — you are convinced that President Putin is going to invade Ukraine?  Is that what you just said a few moments ago?
THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, I did.  Yes.
Q    So, is diplomacy off the table then?
THE PRESIDENT:  No.  There’s always — until he does, diplomacy is always a possibility.
Q    What reason do you have to believe he is considering that option at all?
THE PRESIDENT:  We have a significant intelligence capability.  Thank you very much.
5:03 P.M. EST