Keywords/ War and Diplomacy

an important formal meeting between leaders of governments from two or more countries

(Gipfel)

something which prevents action or agreement

(Hindernis)

Lack of willingness to compromise on both sides is the stumbling block to reaching a settlement.

a situation in which agreement in an argument cannot be reached because neither side will change its demands or accept any of the demands of the other side; stalemate

(Blockierung)

Somebody will have to compromise if we are to break (= end) the deadlock between the two warring factions.

Once again the talks have ended in deadlock.

festgefahren, stecken geblieben

¨The dispute has now been deadlocked for several months.

a situation in which further development is impossible

(auswegslose situation, sackgasse)

strongly disagree (with someone)

The Chancellor is at loggerheads with the Prime Minister over public spending.

the activity, especially in politics, of trying to get what you want by saying that if you do not get it, you will do something dangerous

(gewagte Politik)

to cause something such as a plan or an opportunity to fail

(zum Scheitern bringen)

(especially of governments or organizations) to make an agreement official

(bestätigen)

Many countries have now ratified the UN convention on the rights of the child.

The decision will have to be ratified (= approved) by the executive board.

if something is teetering on the brink/edge of a bad situation, it is likely that the situation will happen soon

What we are seeing now is a country teetering on the brink of civil war.