Final Word from Monday, July 28, 2014
Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek supported the idea of an arms embargo on Russia, saying last week on ČT that it's needed because of the transfers of sophisticated weapons systems across the border. These transfers are an important source of the tragedy that occurred there, he said. An attentive listener would be excused for deducing from this that European weapons are being smuggled into Ukraine for use by the separatists, but surely this isn't what Zaorálek meant. The embargo planned by the EU would apply only to future EU arms contracts and would therefore have almost no impact on the Ukraine conflict, unless it dragged on for years. The embargo would instead hurt a company like Tatra, which has been ramping up to do big business in Russia with its trucks. By supporting the embargo, Zaorálek will win applause from Putin's detractors but will otherwise achieve something quite different from his stated intention. [Czech Republic Vladimir Czech Television European Union military Russia]
Glossary of difficult words
misguided - having or showing faulty judgment or reasoning; misconceived;
to drag on - to persist or continue;
to ramp up - (esp. in reference to the production of goods) to increase or cause to increase in amount;
detractor - a person who criticizes or disparages someone.