Vocabulary from Vladimir Putin's Speech on Crimea

The issues surrounding the Russian state and the area of Ukraine known as Crimea involve centuries of history and complex issues of sovereignty and self-determination. In an effort to untangle at least some of these issues, below are 60 vocabulary words drawn from Putin's speech of March 18, 2014. Whatever one thinks of Putin and his methods, and whether the situation in Ukraine is the beginning of something or the end, it is this speech that history will likely turn to to examine Putin's public persona at this time. The entire text of the speech can be found here The Prague Post, March 19, 2014.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. republic
    a form of government whose head of state is not a monarch
    Representatives of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol are here among us, citizens of Russia, residents of Crimea and Sevastopol!
  2. referendum
    a legislative act referred for approval to a popular vote
    A referendum was held in Crimea on March 16 in full compliance with democratic procedures and international norms.
  3. compliance
    acting according to certain accepted standards
    A referendum was held in Crimea on March 16 in full compliance with democratic procedures and international norms.
  4. democratic
    based upon the principles of social equality
    A referendum was held in Crimea on March 16 in full compliance with democratic procedures and international norms.
  5. orthodoxy
    the quality of adhering to what is commonly accepted
    His spiritual feat of adopting Orthodoxy predetermined the overall basis of the culture, civilization and human values that unite the peoples of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
  6. valor
    courage when facing danger
    Each one of these places is dear to our hearts, symbolizing Russian military glory and outstanding valor.
  7. peninsula
    a large mass of land projecting into a body of water
    Incidentally, the total population of the Crimean Peninsula today is 2.2 million people, of whom almost 1.5 million are Russians, 350,000 are Ukrainians who predominantly consider Russian their native language, and about 290,000-300,000 are Crimean Tatars, who, as the referendum has shown, also lean towards Russia.
  8. predominantly
    much greater in number or influence
    Incidentally, the total population of the Crimean Peninsula today is 2.2 million people, of whom almost 1.5 million are Russians, 350,000 are Ukrainians who predominantly consider Russian their native language, and about 290,000-300,000 are Crimean Tatars, who, as the referendum has shown, also lean towards Russia.
  9. repression
    control by holding down
    There is only one thing I can say here: millions of people of various ethnicities suffered during those repressions, and primarily Russians.
  10. initiative
    the first of a series of actions
    This was the personal initiative of the Communist Party head Nikita Khrushchev.
  11. communist
    relating to socialism that abolishes private ownership
    This was the personal initiative of the Communist Party head Nikita Khrushchev.
  12. atone
    turn away from sin or do penitence
    What stood behind this decision of his – a desire to win the support of the Ukrainian political establishment or to atone for the mass repressions of the 1930’s in Ukraine – is for historians to figure out.
  13. totalitarian
    of a government with an authority exerting absolute control
    Naturally, in a totalitarian state nobody bothered to ask the citizens of Crimea and Sevastopol.
  14. plunder
    steal goods; take as spoils
    It was only when Crimea ended up as part of a different country that Russia realized that it was not simply robbed, it was plundered.
  15. sovereignty
    the authority of a state to govern another state
    At the same time, we have to admit that by launching the sovereignty parade Russia itself aided in the collapse of the Soviet Union.
  16. reconcile
    come to terms
    However, the people could not reconcile themselves to this outrageous historical injustice.
  17. fraternal
    like or characteristic of or befitting a brother
    Meanwhile, our relations with Ukraine, with the fraternal Ukrainian people have always been and will remain of foremost importance for us.
  18. expedite
    process fast and efficiently
    The then President of Ukraine Mr Kuchma asked me to expedite the process of delimiting the Russian-Ukrainian border.
  19. de facto
    existing, whether with lawful authority or not
    Despite the complexity of the situation, I immediately issued instructions to Russian government agencies to speed up their work to document the borders, so that everyone had a clear understanding that by agreeing to delimit the border we admitted de facto and de jure that Crimea was Ukrainian territory, thereby closing the issue.
  20. de jure
    by right; according to law
    Despite the complexity of the situation, I immediately issued instructions to Russian government agencies to speed up their work to document the borders, so that everyone had a clear understanding that by agreeing to delimit the border we admitted de facto and de jure that Crimea was Ukrainian territory, thereby closing the issue.
  21. deadlock
    a situation in which no progress can be made
    What we proceeded from back then was that good relations with Ukraine matter most for us and they should not fall hostage to deadlock territorial disputes.
  22. deprive
    take away
    Time and time again attempts were made to deprive Russians of their historical memory, even of their language and to subject them to forced assimilation.
  23. assimilation
    the process of absorbing one cultural group into another
    Time and time again attempts were made to deprive Russians of their historical memory, even of their language and to subject them to forced assimilation.
  24. reiterate
    say, state, or perform again
    I would like to reiterate that I understand those who came out on Maidan with peaceful slogans against corruption, inefficient state management and poverty.
  25. coup
    a sudden and decisive change of government by force
    Nationalists, neo-Nazis, Russophobes and anti-Semites executed this coup.
  26. infringement
    an act that disregards an agreement or a right
    The new so-called authorities began by introducing a draft law to revise the language policy, which was a direct infringement on the rights of ethnic minorities.
  27. presumption
    a premise that is taken for granted
    Hardly any mention is made of this attempt now, probably on the presumption that people have a short memory.
  28. ideological
    relating to the characteristic thinking of a group
    Nevertheless, we can all clearly see the intentions of these ideological heirs of Bandera, Hitler’s accomplice during World War II.
    It is also obvious that there is no legitimate executive authority in Ukraine now, nobody to talk to.
  29. militant
    engaged in war
    In some cases, you need a special permit from the militants on Maidan to meet with certain ministers of the current government.
  30. secede
    withdraw from an organization or polity
    Incidentally, I would like to remind you that when Ukraine seceded from the USSR it did exactly the same thing, almost word for word.
  31. precedent
    an example that is used to justify similar occurrences
    Moreover, the Crimean authorities referred to the well-known Kosovo precedent – a precedent our western colleagues created with their own hands in a very similar situation, when they agreed that the unilateral separation of Kosovo from Serbia, exactly what Crimea is doing now, was legitimate and did not require any permission from the country’s central authorities.
  32. unilateral
    involving only one part or side
    Moreover, the Crimean authorities referred to the well-known Kosovo precedent – a precedent our western colleagues created with their own hands in a very similar situation, when they agreed that the unilateral separation of Kosovo from Serbia, exactly what Crimea is doing now, was legitimate and did not require any permission from the country’s central authorities.
  33. pursuant
    in conformance to or agreement with
    Pursuant to Article 2, Chapter 1 of the United Nations Charter, the UN International Court agreed with this approach and made the following comment in its ruling of July 22, 2010, and I quote: “No general prohibition may be inferred from the practice of the Security Council with regard to declarations of independence,” and “General international law contains no prohibition on declarations of independence.”
  34. prohibition
    the action of forbidding
    Pursuant to Article 2, Chapter 1 of the United Nations Charter, the UN International Court agreed with this approach and made the following comment in its ruling of July 22, 2010, and I quote: “No general prohibition may be inferred from the practice of the Security Council with regard to declarations of independence,” and “General international law contains no prohibition on declarations of independence.”
  35. infer
    conclude by reasoning
    Pursuant to Article 2, Chapter 1 of the United Nations Charter, the UN International Court agreed with this approach and made the following comment in its ruling of July 22, 2010, and I quote: “No general prohibition may be inferred from the practice of the Security Council with regard to declarations of independence,” and “General international law contains no prohibition on declarations of independence.”
  36. disseminate
    cause to become widely known
    They wrote this, disseminated it all over the world, had everyone agree and now they are outraged.
  37. cynicism
    a pessimistic feeling of distrust
    This is not even double standards; this is amazing, primitive, blunt cynicism.
  38. dissolution
    separation into component parts
    After the dissolution of bipolarity on the planet, we no longer have stability.
  39. degrading
    characterized by dishonor
    Key international institutions are not getting any stronger; on the contrary, in many cases, they are sadly degrading.
  40. tyranny
    government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator
    Clearly, the people in those nations, where these events took place, were sick of tyranny and poverty, of their lack of prospects; but these feelings were taken advantage of cynically.
  41. stipulate
    make an express demand or provision in an agreement
    In 2004, to push the necessary candidate through at the presidential elections, they thought up some sort of third round that was not stipulated by the law.
  42. reciprocal
    concerning each of two or more persons or things
    But we saw no reciprocal steps.
  43. deployment
    the distribution of forces in preparation for battle or work
    This happened with NATO’s expansion to the East, as well as the deployment of military infrastructure at our borders.
  44. infrastructure
    the basic features of a system or organization
    This happened with NATO’s expansion to the East, as well as the deployment of military infrastructure at our borders.
  45. apprehension
    fearful expectation or anticipation
    In spite of all our apprehensions, the project is working and moving forward.
  46. cold war
    a state of political hostility between countries
    For example, still during the times of the Cold War, the US and subsequently other nations restricted a large list of technologies and equipment from being sold to the USSR, creating the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls list.
  47. imperative
    requiring attention or action
    Today, it is imperative to end this hysteria, to refute the rhetoric of the cold war and to accept the obvious fact: Russia is an independent, active participant in international affairs; like other countries, it has its own national interests that need to be taken into account and respected.
  48. refute
    overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
    Today, it is imperative to end this hysteria, to refute the rhetoric of the cold war and to accept the obvious fact: Russia is an independent, active participant in international affairs; like other countries, it has its own national interests that need to be taken into account and respected.
  49. rhetoric
    study of the technique for using language effectively
    Today, it is imperative to end this hysteria, to refute the rhetoric of the cold war and to accept the obvious fact: Russia is an independent, active participant in international affairs; like other countries, it has its own national interests that need to be taken into account and respected.
  50. objectivity
    judgment based on observable phenomena
    At the same time, we are grateful to all those who understood our actions in Crimea; we are grateful to the people of China, whose leaders have always considered the situation in Ukraine and Crimea taking into account the full historical and political context, and greatly appreciate India’s reserve and objectivity.
  51. unequivocally
    in an unambiguous manner
    Our nation, however, unequivocally supported the sincere, unstoppable desire of the Germans for national unity.
  52. aspiration
    a cherished desire
    I am confident that you have not forgotten this, and I expect that the citizens of Germany will also support the aspiration of the Russians, of historical Russia, to restore unity.
  53. flaunt
    display proudly
    They flaunt slogans about Ukraine’s greatness, but they are the ones who did everything to divide the nation.
  54. illusory
    having the nature of something unreal or deceptive
    It would have meant that NATO’s navy would be right there in this city of Russia’s military glory, and this would create not an illusory but a perfectly real threat to the whole of southern Russia.
  55. facilitate
    make easier
    Most importantly, we want peace and harmony to reign in Ukraine, and we are ready to work together with other countries to do everything possible to facilitate and support this.
  56. compatriot
    a person from your own country
    The Russian people showed this maturity and strength through their united support for their compatriots.
  57. consolidation
    the act of combining into an integral whole
    Now, we need to continue and maintain this kind of consolidation so as to resolve the tasks our country faces on its road ahead.
  58. disparate
    fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
    I would like to know what it is they have in mind exactly: action by a fifth column, this disparate bunch of ‘national traitors’, or are they hoping to put us in a worsening social and economic situation so as to provoke public discontent?
  59. accordance
    concurrence or agreement of opinion
    Members of the Federation Council, deputies of the State Duma, citizens of Russia, residents of Crimea and Sevastopol, today, in accordance with the people’s will, I submit to the Federal Assembly a request to consider a Constitutional Law on the creation of two new constituent entities within the Russian Federation: the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, and to ratify the treaty on admitting to the Russian Federation Crimea and Sevastopol, which is already ready for signing.
  60. ratify
    approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
    Members of the Federation Council, deputies of the State Duma, citizens of Russia, residents of Crimea and Sevastopol, today, in accordance with the people’s will, I submit to the Federal Assembly a request to consider a Constitutional Law on the creation of two new constituent entities within the Russian Federation: the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, and to ratify the treaty on admitting to the Russian Federation Crimea and Sevastopol, which is already ready for signing.
Created on Mon Mar 24 20:10:23 EDT 2014 (updated Tue Mar 25 09:23:16 EDT 2014)

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