voa标准英语2008-Ukraine Threatened Again by Mid-Winter Russian G

Russia's Gazprom energy monopoly¹ is preparing to cut gas supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv does not repay² a $2 billion debt by December 31. But Ukrainians dispute the Russian figure, and say they have enough supplies to last through the cold winter months.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller³ told Russia's Vesti 24 television the company has created an operations center to begin technical preparations for cutting gas supplies to Ukraine.
　

Sergei Kupriyanov speaks at a news conference in Moscow, 30 Dec 2008

In a colorful turn of phrase, Gazprom spokesman⁴ Sergei Kupriyanov told a Moscow news conference Tuesday that Miller was in talks wielding⁵ a club in hopes of reaching a last-minute agreement with the Ukrainian side.

Kupriyanov says Gazprom has been seeking alternatives that would offer their Ukrainian colleagues another way of settling the debt, including advance payment by Gazprom to the Ukrainian gas company, Naftogaz of Ukraine, for gas pipeline⁶ transit⁷ rights through that country.

However, Oleksiy Hudyma, energy advisor⁸ to Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, told VOA that Ukraine's current debt is less than $1 billion, because the second billion represents payment for December gas that does not come due until January 25.

He says the recent sharp devaluation of Ukraine's currency, the hryvna, has made it difficult for the country to pay the debt in U.S. dollars, adding that Russia is not so much interested in getting its money, but using energy to play politics.

Hudyma says Moscow is trying to influence Europe by suggesting Ukraine can interrupt its energy supplies and to make Europeans better appreciate the importance of Russia. He says Russia is also seeking control over Ukraine's gas transport system, adding that Gazprom's proposal to settle the Ukrainian debt by allowing the company to pay in advance for transit rights will leave Ukraine with no profit in 2009.
　

Pipes seen in a gas storage and transit point in Boyarka, just outside Kyiv, Ukraine (file photo)

Hudyma and Gazprom both assure consumers in Western Europe that their gas supplies will not be cut, though for slightly different reasons. Gazprom spokesman Kupriyanov says Ukraine is obligated by contract not to reduce European supplies that transit through Ukraine, while energy advisor Hudyma says his country has enough reserves to supply itself and Europe at least through April.

Hudyma says there will be no harmful effects on Europe under any circumstances. If those circumstances become critical and Russia tries to limit supplies in a critical situation, he says Ukraine will get by on reserves that are stored underground.

Russia says it will charge Ukraine a market price of $418 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas. But Oleksiy Hudyma says that price is arbitrary, noting that the Czech republic pays only $350, though it is much farther downstream from Russia than Ukraine.

He adds that much of the gas Ukraine receives from Russia is mixed with cheaper supplies from Turkmenistan, for which he claims Russia does not yet have a contract.

Ukrainian and Russian representatives are all expressing hope for a last minute agreement.

1 monopoly   

n.垄断，专卖，垄断物（商品），专卖商品

参考例句：

• His monopoly of shipbuilding in that country has been established.他对那个国家造船业的垄断已经建立起来。
• In many countries,tobacco is a government monopoly.在许多国家，烟草由政府专营。

2 repay   

v.偿还，报答，还钱给

参考例句：

• I feel honor bound to repay the money I borrowed.我觉得有责任归还我借的钱。
• I must repay her for her kindness.我必须报答她的恩惠。

3 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

4 spokesman   

n.发言人，代言人

参考例句：

• The government spokesman gave a quick briefing to the reporters.政府发言人向记者们作了情况简介。
• They drew lots to decide who should be their spokesman.他们抽签决定谁是他们的发言人。

5 wielding   

手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响）

参考例句：

• The rebels were wielding sticks of dynamite. 叛乱分子舞动着棒状炸药。
• He is wielding a knife. 他在挥舞着一把刀。

6 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

7 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

8 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。