VOA标准英语2009年-EU Fails To End Gas Crisis Between Ukraine and

The European Uninion efforts to resolve a bitter gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine foundered¹ on Thursday when Russia reportedly refused to agree to a EU proposal to send independent monitors to check Russia's gas flow through Ukraine. Moscow's gas cuts have left some European countries facing shortfalls during a bitter winter.
　 COLLAPSE⁵: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="15%" align="left" border="0">

Gas pressure gauge2 on the main gas pipeline3 from Russia in the village of Boyarka, Ukraine,03 Jan 2009

Efforts to resolve Russia-Ukraine price dispute seemed to be making headway earlier in the day during European Union (EU) sponsored talks between Moscow and Kiev. The EU have proposed to send monitors to check the flow of Russian gas through Ukraine after Moscow accused Kiev of stealing gas bound for Europe.

Ukrainian Vice⁴ Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemryrya told reporters the two sides had reached a breakthrough.

"I'm pleased to inform you that we agreed with the European Union that the EU monitors will be sent to Ukraine which we consider a positive and quick response on the initiative of the Ukrainian government that we highly value, because in our view, that could provide and help to restore a confidence and to prevent the collapse of trust that would be totally harmful for the frozen negotiations⁶ between [Ukraine gas company] Naftgaz and [Russia's] Gazprom," he said.

But later , the Czech Republic that currently holds the EU Presidency⁷ said Russian energy giant Gazprom had rejected the EU proposals for monitors. Russia in turn blamed Ukraine.

More than a week since Russia cut its gas supplies for Kiev,a number of European countries are feeling the fallout of reduced gas supplies imported via the Ukraine. More than a dozen countries have reported a halt in gas shipments, with some citizens in Bulgaria, Bosnia and Serbia have been left without heat in icy winter weather.

1 foundered   

v.创始人( founder的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Three ships foundered in heavy seas. 三艘船在波涛汹涌的海面上沉没了。 来自辞典例句
• The project foundered as a result of lack of finance. 该项目因缺乏资金而告吹。 来自辞典例句

2 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。

3 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。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 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。

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 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。