普京宣称俄罗斯新型武器“天下无敌”（在线收听）

Putin Claims Russia Has New Weapons to Make Others 'Useless'

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia has developed new nuclear weapons that cannot be stopped by western defense systems.

俄罗斯总统普京表示，俄罗斯已经开发出西方国防体系无法拦截的新型核武器。

The claims by the Russian leader raise concerns that a new arms race could be taking place.

普京的说法让人们担心新一轮军备竞赛可能会上演。

Putin spoke in a yearly speech before Russian officials and lawmakers in Moscow. The speech comes weeks before Russia’s presidential election on March 18 in which Putin is seeking his fourth term as president.

普京在莫斯科向俄罗斯官员和议员们发表了年度讲话。这次讲话距离俄罗斯3月18日的总统选举只有几个星期。普京在这次选举中寻求赢得第四次总统任期。

New nuclear weapons

新型核武器

Putin said Russia’s military had tested a group of new strategic weapons aimed at defeating western defense systems. The Russian leader used videos shown on a large screen to present some of the weapons he discussed.

普京表示，俄罗斯军方已经测试了一批旨在绕过西方国防体系的新型战略武器。普京在大屏幕上用视频介绍了他说到的一些武器。

He said the new weapons included a nuclear-powered cruise missile, a laser weapon and a nuclear-powered underwater drone.

他说，新型武器包括核动力巡航导弹、激光武器以及核动力水下无人机。

The Russian leader described the cruise missile as being able to travel a “practically unlimited” distance. And he added that it could defeat antimissile systems by moving unpredictably.

普京称这种巡航导弹的射程可以无限远，他还补充说，它可以通过不可预测地移动来绕过反导弹系统。

Another weapon described was a nuclear-powered underwater drone able to travel at great depths under the sea. Putin said the device could target aircraft carriers and would avoid measures to stop it by traveling 10 times faster than any other ship.

普京提到的另一种武器是可以在海底深处潜行的核动力水下无人机。普京表示，该装置可以瞄准航空母舰，并以比任何船舶快10倍的速度躲避拦截。

Other weapons systems discussed included an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, able to travel at 20 times the speed of sound. Putin said a hypersonic air-launched missile, called Kinzhal, with a range of 2000 kilometers was already deployed.

普京提到的其它武器系统还包括能够以20倍音速运行的洲际弹道导弹。普京表示，俄罗斯已经部署了一种射程达到2千公里的Kinzhal超音速空射导弹。

And Putin said Russia had tested its Sarmat ICBM that could strike anywhere in the world carrying many nuclear warheads.

普京还表示，俄罗斯已经测试了可以携带多枚核弹头打击全球任何地点的萨尔玛特洲际弹道导弹。

He said the new weapons had made the missile defenses of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) “useless.”

他说，这些新型武器已经让北约的导弹防御系统“毫无用处。”

Reactions from American lawmakers

美国议员的反应

Putin’s speech drew quick responses from American lawmakers.

普京的演讲得到了美国议员们的迅速回应。

Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina told VOA, “I view Mr. Putin like I view any murderer or criminal. When they say something, they’re probably lying, but you have to take it seriously.”

北卡罗来纳州共和党参议员汤姆·蒂利斯（Thom Tillis）对美国之音表示：“我把普京看作是凶手或犯罪分子。当这类人说话时，他们可能是在撒谎，但是我们得认真对待。”

And Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland added that "Countries that boast about their military — there’s a reason why, because they know that their capacities are far less than what they claim to have.”

马里兰州民主党参议员本·卡丁（Ben Cardin）补充说，“有些国家夸耀他们的军事能力，原因就是他们知道，自己的真实能力远远低于他们声称拥有的能力。”

Senator Dick Durbin is a leader of the Senate Democrats. He said, “Some of the things that Putin said today in Moscow are frightening, because they suggest advancements by the Russians when it comes to lethal technology.” Durbin added that he wants “to sit down with our people in the Pentagon and the intelligence community to measure whether this is just bluster or a serious threat.”

迪克·德宾（Dick Durbin）是参议院民主党领导人。他说：“普京今天在莫斯科说的一些事情是令人恐惧的，他们提到了俄罗斯在杀伤类科技方面取得的进展。”德宾补充说，他希望“跟五角大楼和情报界人士坐到一块，来判断一下这只是一种威吓呢，还是一种严重威胁。”

Strains on the economy

经济紧张

The Russian leader also spoke about economic problems.

普京还谈到了经济问题。

Putin set a goal of cutting the number of Russian poor people in half. Government numbers show that nearly 14 percent of Russians live below the poverty line and real incomes decreased in 2017 for a fourth year. The poverty rate is nearly four percent higher than it was in 2010.

普京设定了将俄罗斯贫困人口减半的目标。政府数据显示，近14%的俄罗斯人生活在贫困线以下，同时实际收入在2017年连续第四年下滑。贫困率比2010年高出了近4个百分点。

Russia has struggled economically as it faces international sanctions for its seizure of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and low prices for oil. Putin also called for improvements to the nation’s health care system and building needed infrastructure projects.

俄罗斯在经济上面临挣扎，这是由于它正面临2014年占领克里米亚半岛招致的国际制裁，同时石油价格低迷。普京还呼吁改善该国的医疗保健体系，并建设所需的基础设施项目。

I’m Mario Ritter.

Words in This Story

strategic –n. related to a long-term strategy or plan

cruise missile –n. a guided missile that flies long distances closer to the earth

drone –n. a vehicle that does not have people on it but is controlled remotely

unpredictably –adv. behaving in an unexpected way

intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) –n. a powerful rocket that travels into space to reach a distant target on earth

hypersonic –adj. many times faster than the speed of sound (which is about 1200 kilometers and hour)

lethal –adj. having the ability to kill, deadly

bluster –n. words that are loud and aggressive