blackmail: 敲诈、勒索
Or will that look like giving in to russian blackmail?
或者说这样看起来好像是对俄国的勒索表示让步？
In blackmail timing can be everything.
时机的选择能决定一次敲诈的成败。

give a damn: 感兴趣、关心
I don't give a damn what you say.
不管你怎么说，我要走了。
I'm afraid I don't give a damn about anything he said.
恐怕他所说的任何事我都不感兴趣。

get one’s act together: 振作精神
We have to get our act together for achieving that laborious task.
我们必须齐心协力来完成那项艰苦的任务。