VOA标准英语2009年-Russia Blames Ukraine for Europe's Gas Shortage

Russia says Ukraine is stealing natural gas destined¹ for Europe, as several countries have complained about a reduction of Russian gas deliveries from a pipeline² passing through Ukraine. Kyiv has denied the charges, citing "technical difficulties" after Moscow cut-off supplies of natural gas to Ukraine amid a dispute over prices.
　

Gas pressure gauge3 on the main gas pipeline from Russia in the village of Boyarka, Ukraine,03 Jan 2009

There is concern that many European families will be very cold this winter.

Russia's energy giant, Gazprom, says several of its key customers in Eastern Europe and the Balkans are receiving less Russian natural gas since it closed the taps to Ukraine on New Year's Day because of unpaid⁴ bills.

Gazprom's Chief Executive Officer Alexei Miller⁵ blames Russia's neighbor for the shortfall.

"Our European consumers in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Poland, and in the Balkans, are reporting unlicensed siphoning-off of Russian gas on Ukrainian territory," said Miller. "In this situation, Gazprom must provide additional volumes of gas through other gas transporting corridors."

Ukraine denies it is stealing from Russia's main pipeline to the West, saying there are technical reasons for Europe's natural gas reductions.

Ukraine's official on energy security, Bohdan Sokolovsky, has warned that Europe could face a bigger crisis within two weeks if Russia continues to halt natural gas deliveries to his country.

His comments were translated by Russia Today television.

"In around 10 days, there could be very serious technical problems," he said. "The transport of gas may be disrupted at some point and it will not be our fault."

Russia says natural gas shipments to Ukraine can resume only if it pays outstanding debts of more than two-billion dollars. Ukraine has pledged to pay only $1.5 billion.

In addition, Gazprom has raised the price of natural gas for Ukraine to $450 per 1,000 cubic meters - nearly twice the amount offered by Kyiv.

Gazprom and energy mediation⁶ company RosUkrEnergo accuse Ukraine of trying to blackmail⁷ the Russian gas producer into lowering prices.

RosUkrEnergo's Board of Directors member Hans Baumgartner says they are suing the Ukrainian government over the dispute.

"RosUkrEnergo itself filed two claims against Ukraine," he said. "To ensure gas transportation to Western Europe."

Ukraine has urged the European Union to mediate⁸. Europe receives about a quarter of its gas supplies from Russia, but it has been reluctant to become involved in the Ukrainian-Russian dispute.

But the Czech Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency⁹, has called a special meeting of envoys¹⁰ from all 27 member states to discuss the crisis on Monday in Prague.

1 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

2 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。

3 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

4 unpaid   

adj.未付款的，无报酬的

参考例句：

• Doctors work excessive unpaid overtime.医生过度加班却无报酬。
• He's doing a month's unpaid work experience with an engineering firm.他正在一家工程公司无偿工作一个月以获得工作经验。

5 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

6 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

7 blackmail   

n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓

参考例句：

• She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
• The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

8 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

9 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

10 envoys   

使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份

参考例句：

• the routine tit for tat when countries expel each other's envoys 国家相互驱逐对方使节这种惯常的报复行动
• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache. 马可波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。