VOA新闻杂志2022--法国、德国和意大利领导人访问乌克兰

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Leaders of France, Germany and Italy Visit Ukraine

The leaders of four European Union nations visited Ukraine on Thursday, promising¹ to support the country's effort to join the 27-member group.

French President Emmanuel Macron also promised Ukraine six more powerful artillery² guns. The offering was the latest of Western promises of weapons to Ukraine. The country's war with Russia continues slowly in the eastern Donbas area.

The leaders "are doing everything so that Ukraine alone can decide its fate," Macron said at a news conference.

The visit by Macron and the leaders of Germany, Italy and Romania showed additional support for Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders have expressed concern that Western nations are tiring of the war.

The French, German and Italian leaders have faced criticism for continuing to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Critics also say the leaders have not provided Ukraine with enough weaponry to defend itself against Russia.

After arriving in Kyiv to the sound of air raid warnings, the group headed to the nearby town of Irpin. Many civilians³ were killed there during intense fighting early in the war. The European leaders denounced the destruction they found.

Officials in Ukraine have expressed fears that "war fatigue⁴" could slow or even end international support for Ukraine. Inflation and upcoming elections in the United States might capture more attention.

The U.S. and its European allies have given billions of dollars in weaponry and aid to Ukraine. Germany and the U.S. recently announced new arms shipments. Such weapons have been central to Ukraine's successful defense⁵ of its capital. But officials in Kyiv have said much more will be needed.

While hopes were high for the visit, some are expressing concerns.

Governor Serhiy Haidai of Luhansk said the visit would not bring progress if the leaders ask Ukraine to sign a peace treaty with Russia that involves giving up territory. Haidai governs an area in the Donbas area that is occupied by Russian forces.

"I am sure that our president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is not going to make concessions⁷ and trade our territories," he said.

"Today it will be one territory, tomorrow another one, the day after tomorrow another," he said.

While visiting Irpin, German Chancellor⁸ Olaf Scholz said that officials must remember the destruction around them as they make decisions.

"Innocent civilians have been hit, houses have been destroyed; a whole town has been destroyed in which there was no military infrastructure⁹ at all," Scholz said. He added that what the leaders had seen showed much about Russian aggression¹⁰.

Italian Premier¹¹ Mario Draghi also spoke¹² in Irpin, promising European help for the damaged city.

"They destroyed the nurseries, the playgrounds, and everything will be rebuilt," Draghi said.

Macron, Scholz and Draghi, represent the three largest economies in the European Union. They traveled to Kyiv together on a special train provided by the Ukrainian officials. But, they have been criticized for not visiting Kyiv sooner.

President Klaus Iohannis of Romania arrived on a separate train. His country borders Ukraine and has been important for Ukrainian refugees.

After seeing Irpin, Iohannis wrote on Twitter that there are "no words to describe the unimaginable human tragedy and horrible destruction." He called for the international criminal justice system to hold Russia responsible.

In Ukraine, Macron answered criticism of France's position, including his recent comment that Russia should not be "humiliated¹⁴." The statement deeply angered Ukrainians.

His office also released information showing that Macron had spoken with Zelenskyy 23 times since the war began. That is more than Macron has spoken with Putin.

Tamara Malko lives in the Donetsk area that is part of the Donbas. She said Macron and Scholz had been "very cold" toward Ukrainians so far, and hoped for a change.

"We want peace very much...and have high hopes for Macron and Scholz," she said. "We want them to see and understand our pain."

Words in This Story

fate –n. the things that happen to in the future over which people have no control

infrastructure –n. the system of public works of a country, state, or region

fatigue –n. a state of being very tired

concession⁶ –n. something that is given up in an effort to reach an agreement or stop a conflict

humiliate¹³ –v. to cause (someone) to feel very ashamed or foolish

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 concession   

n.让步，妥协；特许(权)

参考例句：

• We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
• That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。

7 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

8 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

10 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

11 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

12 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。

13 humiliate   

v.使羞辱，使丢脸[同]disgrace

参考例句：

• What right had they to bully and humiliate people like this?凭什么把人欺侮到这个地步呢？
• They pay me empty compliments which only humiliate me.他们虚情假意地恭维我，这只能使我感到羞辱。

14 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。