Final Word from Monday, April 14, 2025
Right after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Czech PM Petr Fiala told the lower house of Parliament that he was prepared to push on the EU level for "the harshest possible sanctions and the most decisive steps for deterring Russia from further dangerous actions." The EU agreed later that day on "further restrictive measures that will have massive and severe consequences for Russia." Three years later, Russia is still pounding Ukraine on a daily basis. The EU and its partners have intentionally rationed the sanctions so that they wouldn't be too burdensome on themselves, thereby also giving Russia more time to deal with them. As a candidate and president, Donald Trump has been threatening or imposing tariffs against trading-partner "cheaters" for about as long as the EU has been imposing sanctions on Russia. He's now attacking on a full-scale basis, but with pauses and temporary exemptions. He's using similar tactics to those used for the past three years against Russia.
Glossary of difficult words
to deter - to discourage (someone) from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences; to prevent the occurrence of;
to pound - to strike or hit heavily and repeatedly;
to ration - to supply, apportion or distribute in limited amounts.