Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria: Russian translator distorted Steinmeier's words about the annexation of Crimea
Russian translators and the media have distorted the words of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who made a visit this week to Moscow, attributing to him a quote about "the reunification of the Crimea with Russia". The Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria, Olexander Scherba, noted the translation error on his Facebook page.
"In about the 8th minute of the 15th second you can see how totalitarian fake news works. Steinmeier speaks in German: ‘Annexion.’ The interpreter fumbles and translates: ‘reunification with Russia’,” wrote the Ambassador on the social network.
In support of his statement, Scherba attached a video recording of the press conference of the German president to his Russian counterpart.
As is apparent in the video, the word "annexion" is clearly heard from the mouth of Steinmeier, while the translator from German into English after a long pause translated "reunification of Crimea with Russia".
As is well known, in English there is a word, "annexation", that is an analogue of the German "annexion". It is this term that Western officials use when they speak of the Russian annexation of the Crimea.
Earlier, after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Steinmeier said that today the Russian Federation and Germany are far from normal relations.