VOA标准英语2014--Russia Arms Ukraine Secessionists, Again

 

Russia Arms Ukraine Secessionists, Again

MOSCOW — When Crimea broke away from Ukraine, after the uprising in Kyiv that ousted¹ President Viktor Yanukovych, Russia denied sending soldiers and weapons to boost the secessionist forces. Now the Kremlin is trying the same tactic² in the Russian-leaning areas of southeastern Ukraine.

Video of Ukraine rebels jump-starting an old tank atop a World War II monument seemed to symbolize³ to the world their shortage of weapons.

On June 4, President Vladimir Putin told a French interviewer that American officials were lying when they accused Russia of sending men and materiel to Ukraine’s secessionists.

“There are no armed forces, no Russian ‘instructors’ in southeastern Ukraine," he said. "And there never were any.”

He then challenged Washington to show proof.

Despite his disavowal, videos surfaced on YouTube last week of three modern T-64 tanks - clanking through the streets of rebel-controlled Donetsk.

Then, NATO released satellite photos indicating that the tanks came from southern Russia as part of a larger weapons convoy⁴ that included rocket launchers.

Pavel Felgenhauer, a Moscow military analyst⁵, says the Kremlin sent the tanks to pick up the spirits of rebels squeezed by a Ukrainian Army offensive.

“These tanks would be, a powerful morale⁶ booster. So they were paraded, most likely, not for Western consumption but for local consumption,” said Felgenhauer.

Rebel fighters are increasingly surrounded by Ukrainian army troops, and this week, rebel militia⁷ leader Igor Strelkov urgently appealed to Moscow for more Russian arms. Other rebel leaders went to Moscow and appealed in person.

In Moscow, Sergei Markov, an influential⁸ nationalist thinker, warned that Moscow needs Ukraine’s Donbass region as a safety buffer⁹ between Russia and the West.

"Russia can't give up the Donbass," he said, "because the next blow will be against Russia."

Markov warned of security consequences if Russia allowed a pro-West government to survive in Kyiv.  He predicted that in 2017, “a NATO-Ukrainian army will invade Russia through Crimea."

Ukraine’s new president, Petro Poroshenko, is proposing a unilateral cease-fire.  But first, his soldiers are trying to shut off Russian arms shipments by closing Ukraine’s 2,000-kilometer land border with Russia.

On the other side of the border, however, Russia is rebuilding its military strength.  Felgenhauer says the goal is to give Russia the option of a cross-border offensive in July or August.

“If there is a threat the rebellion will collapse¹⁰, Russia may move in, in force,” said Felgenhauer.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the day after Russia stopped selling gas to Ukraine, there was an explosion on a buried pipeline¹¹ that exports gas to Europe.  Ukrainian authorities say the blast might have been an act of terrorism aimed at undermining Ukraine's reputation as a reliable conduit for energy supplies.

1 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

2 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

3 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

4 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

5 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

6 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

7 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

8 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

9 buffer   

n.起缓冲作用的人(或物)，缓冲器；vt.缓冲

参考例句：

• A little money can be a useful buffer in time of need.在急需时，很少一点钱就能解燃眉之急。
• Romantic love will buffer you against life's hardships.浪漫的爱会减轻生活的艰辛。

10 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

11 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。