VOA标准英语2014--Russia, Ukraine Leaders Trade Blame for Malaysia Airline Crash

 

Russia, Ukraine Leaders Trade Blame for Malaysia Airline Crash

MOSCOW —

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in an exchange of accusations² over responsibility for a crashed Malaysia Airlines passenger plane - believed shot down by pro-Russia rebels in the border area.  As the war of words continues, analysts⁴ say pressure on Russia will only grow.

Emergency workers and investigators⁵ are combing through fields in eastern Ukraine near the rebel-controlled crash site where nearly 300 people died.

Despite having downed Ukrainian military aircraft, pro-Russia rebels deny responsibility for the Malaysian crash, and are turning over evidence to Moscow.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk called for an international investigation⁶ for what he called a "crime against humanity."

"Let me express on behalf of the Ukrainian government my deep condolences to those innocent, who were killed by Russian-led terrorists, " said Yatseniuk.

Ukraine and western governments accuse Moscow of supplying heavy weapons to the militias⁷ to keep the region destabilized.

Russia rejects the accusation¹ and President Vladimir Putin is blaming the air crash on Ukraine for fighting the rebels.

"In relation to this I would like to mention that this tragedy would not have happened if there was peace in that land, if the fighting had not been restarted in the south-east of Ukraine.  And of course, the state on whose territory this happened carries the responsibility for this terrible tragedy," said Putin.

The scale of the disaster could prove a turning point for international pressure to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.

While the West has imposed sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, the United States has been more aggressive than the European Union. Analysts say the response of Germany and other EU powers to the incident - possibly imposing⁸ more sanctions - could be crucial in deciding the next phase of the standoff with Moscow.

Political commentator⁹ Konstantin von Eggert says that more sanctions are inevitable¹⁰.

"I think there will be more sanctions. Because, I don't think that Russia, even if it wanted to, can pull out of this Ukrainian quagmire¹¹ quite soon," said von Eggert.

But analyst³ James Nixey, of the British policy institute Chatham House, believes that while the West will continue to apply pressure with possible further sanctions, Putin has his own strategy.

"There is in fact a new Russian toolbox for dealing¹² with disagreements in the post-Soviet space and by extension, the West.  And that toolbox includes a number of weaponry, if you like.  And that weaponry can be actual weaponry - tanks, as in Crimea - but can also be in terms of bribery¹³ or coercion¹⁴ or energy cut offs or diplomacy¹⁵ even.  So there are instruments that Putin can use - benign¹⁶ and illegitimate - in order to achieve his goals," said Nixey.

NIxey says this so-called toolbox will likely deter¹⁷ the West from escalating¹⁸ beyond applying tougher sanctions.

1 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

2 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

3 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。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

7 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

8 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

9 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

10 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

11 quagmire   

n.沼地

参考例句：

• On their way was a quagmire which was difficult to get over.路上他俩遇到了—个泥坑,很难过得去。
• Rain had turned the grass into a quagmire.大雨使草地变得一片泥泞。

12 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

13 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

14 coercion   

n.强制，高压统治

参考例句：

• Neither trickery nor coercion is used to secure confessions.既不诱供也不逼供。
• He paid the money under coercion.他被迫付钱。

15 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

16 benign   

adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的

参考例句：

• The benign weather brought North America a bumper crop.温和的气候给北美带来大丰收。
• Martha is a benign old lady.玛莎是个仁慈的老妇人。

17 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

18 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句