VOA慢速英语2015 普京:“孤独”领导人努力重建俄罗斯帝国

Putin: The ‘Lonely’ Leader Working to Rebuild Russian Power 普京:“孤独”领导人努力重建俄罗斯帝国

The Russian economy has faced a crisis in recent months, partly because of the sharp drop in oil prices. Yet, public approval ratings for Russian President Vladimir Putin are near record highs.

Western measures against Russia have failed to reduce its interference in Ukraine. Russia watchers say Mr. Putin is working to return Russia to what he sees as its rightful place in the world, by any means available.

Last Monday, the Russian leader took part in “Defender of the Fatherland Day” observances in Moscow. The event honors his country’s military victories and former members of the armed forces. However, it was not a victory but a defeat that defines Mr. Putin’s way of thinking. Edward Lucas wrote a book called The New Cold War. He says the collapse¹ of the Soviet² Union in 1991 had a major effect on the future Russian president.

“He wants, feels that Russia was cheated in the 1990s, and that the Soviet Union was humiliated³ and toppled by the West, and it’s time to get back what was lost -- both in terms of status, but also in terms of territory.” 

Western leaders say those ideas are being expressed in Ukraine. They accuse the Russian president of sending troops across the border -- a claim Russia denies. The West has taken steps against several oligarchs -- high-level people close to the president. But those measures have had little effect, says writer Ben Judah.

“What that shows is that there aren’t any oligarchs anymore. There is a Putin dictatorship, and there are people who are completely dependent on him for their wealth or their role in Russian politics.”

Ben Judah told Vladimir Putin’s life story in the book Fragile Empire. He says the president feels he is the only person who can lead and rebuild the Russian nation.

“Whether he needs to do that through war, he’ll do that through war. If he needs to do that through economic growth, he’ll do that through economic growth. If he’s going, the only way to do that is through nationalism and confrontation⁴ with the West, he’ll do that.” 

Mr. Putin was an officer in the KGB -- the intelligence service of the Soviet Union. He rose to the position of Lieutenant⁵ Colonel. Edward Lucas says his years with the KGB were a major influence.

“He retains the ruthless and paranoid world view which is the hallmark of the KGB. He’s also come to love the limelight, and he’s gone from the shadows to being an international figure and he enjoys everything that comes with that.” 

While Mr. Putin may enjoy being president, he admitted last year that he has few friends. He spoke⁶ with Russia’s state-operated news agency.

He said, “You know, I don’t feel lonely, as strange as that may sound. Friendly meetings, contact -- I don’t have much, even with people whom I consider my friends.”

Such openness is rare. Mr. Putin has sought to present an image of strength. He was famously pictured riding a horse without anything on the upper half of his body. Other pictures have shown him exploring a shipwreck⁷ and flying a microlight aircraft.

Ben Judah says Mr. Putin’s public image hides his insecurities.

“Putin is a very lonely, very unhappy, deeply isolated⁸ man, terrified of physical decay, and a man who feels enormous self-pity that he has to bear this cross of Russia, that he has to confront these forces.”

Observers say such complexities⁹ are important to understanding the man leading the Russian government. They say he is prepared to re-establish his country’s power and honor at almost any cost.

Words in This Story

means – n. something useful leading to a desired end

oligarch(s) – n. one of a few people who control power in a country

ruthless – adj. uncaring; unfeeling

paranoid – adj. feeling that others want to harm you; having a mental disorder¹⁰ that causes people to falsely believe others want to harm them

limelight – n. the center of attention

isolate(d) – adj. separated from others

decay – n. the loss of strength and health; being slowly destroyed by natural processes of aging

pity – n. a feeling of sadness or sympathy

bear this cross – phrase to suffer like the Christian savior Jesus Christ did when he was executed

1 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。

2 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 humiliated   

感到羞愧的

参考例句：

• Parents are humiliated if their children behave badly when guests are present. 子女在客人面前举止失当，父母也失体面。
• He was ashamed and bitterly humiliated. 他感到羞耻，丢尽了面子。

4 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

5 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 shipwreck   

n.船舶失事，海难

参考例句：

• He walked away from the shipwreck.他船难中平安地脱险了。
• The shipwreck was a harrowing experience.那次船难是一个惨痛的经历。

8 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

9 complexities   

复杂性(complexity的名词复数)； 复杂的事物

参考例句：

• The complexities of life bothered him. 生活的复杂使他困惑。
• The complexities of life bothered me. 生活的杂乱事儿使我心烦。

10 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。