limber up

プーチン大統領はモスクワの大統領府で日本のインタビューに応じました。

Putin limbering up for match with Abe

Russian President Vladimir Putin came out with a spring in his step when he appeared for his interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun and Nippon TV at the Kremlin, accompanied by his well-known Akita dog named “Yume.”
（中略）
In some respects, Putin seems to depend on Abe’s leadership as prime minister. A pressing task for the president is to promote the economic development of the northern territories through cooperation with Japan, and the growth of the Russian Far East.
Putin’s comments on Abe seemed to indicate a relationship between the two leaders with a depth of trust. The prime minister was described as “a consummate professional” and a politician who enjoys “a fairly high level of trust” among people. Given this, their upcoming talks will be “a fight with real swords” for the two leaders.

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003404730

今回取り上げるのはlimber upです。

『ジーニアス英和辞典』（第五版、大修館書店）で“limber”だけをひくと形容詞で「（訓練の結果）しなやかな、柔軟な、軽快な」とありました。

“limber up”は動詞で “to do gentle exercises in order to prepare your muscles for a race, competition etc”を表します。（LDOCEより）

上記のような定義では「柔軟体操」を表しますが、ここでは外交の話をしているので「（安倍首相の）柔軟性」を表しています。

安倍首相は平和条約締結の前提として歯舞、色丹、国後、択捉の４島の帰属問題の解決を目指していますが、ロシア側は日本の譲歩が必要としているようです。(flyingbird)