VOA标准英语2014--US, EU Impose More Sanctions On Russia For Actions in Ukraine

 

US, EU Impose More Sanctions On Russia For Actions in Ukraine

WASHINGTON — The United States and European Union have imposed more sanctions against Russia, saying Moscow has failed to fulfill¹ its commitment to work on defusing tensions in eastern Ukraine. The West is accusing Russia of instigating² rebellion by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, with a goal of destabilizing the country.  U.S. and EU officials warn of additional sanctions if Russia does not abide³ by the agreement reached in Geneva earlier this month.

The new sanctions target government officials and companies close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki saud the sanctions also restrict licenses⁴ for certain U.S. exports to Russia.

"We've consistently felt that there are a range of officials with close ties to President Putin who have supported these illegal acts in Ukraine that we can target here," said Psaki.

British Foreign Minister William Hague accused Russia of fueling bloodshed in eastern Ukraine.

"The deplorable shooting today of the mayor of Kharkiv [a city in eastern Ukraine] is another sign of the violence being used against those who have opted⁵ to support a united Ukraine," said Hague.

In Brussels, representatives of 28 EU nations met to enact⁶ additional sanctions on Moscow for failing to abide by the Geneva agreement.  A spokeswoman for the European Commission, Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, said the EU diplomats⁷ are also discussing a third wave of sanctions targeting Russian banking⁸, energy and other key economic sectors⁹.

"Here and now, we're in a situation where there is no de-escalation¹⁰, so we are currently considering additional measures such as asset freezing and travel bans to be the appropriate level of response at this point in time," said Hansen.

Analysts¹¹ say nothing short of crippling economic sanctions can stop Moscow at this time. Freedom House director David Kramer said the current sanctions are too weak. 

"I think that the sanctions need to be tougher, harder hitting -- it needs to be against sectors of the Russian economy. That is going to cause pain particularly in Europe, less so in the United States, and I think that the list [of sanctioned individual and entities] that was released Monday by the Obama administration indicates a sensitivity to the difficulty of coordinating¹² this with the Europeans. President [Barack] Obama in Asia has made it clear that he wants the U.S. and the EU to present a united front," said Kramer.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble Monday called on European countries to stand united and firm in the face of the Ukrainian crisis.

"The most important reaction is that Europe sticks together.  And nobody should underestimate the decisiveness of Europe.  We do not want to have any escalation, we want cooperation.  But if we are asked for, we stand firm,” said Schaeuble.  

In Moscow, President Putin sought to reassure¹³ Russian politicians that the country's military will not be hurt by losing longtime cooperation with the Ukrainian military industry. He said Ukrainian military specialists have already been offered jobs in Russia's defense¹⁴ industry.

"They will get decent salaries and apartments.  You will receive all of the budget money necessary for that.  The process has already begun,” said Putin.

Meanwhile, the Russian economy, already faltering¹⁵ before the Ukrainian crisis, appears to be declining further, with its currency at an all-time low, its stock market in a sharp decline, and investors¹⁶ withdrawing lucrative¹⁷ investments from the country's economy.

1 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

2 instigating   

v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Distant but clear Longyin instigating the eardrums of every person. 遥远却清晰的龙吟鼓动着每一个人的耳膜。 来自互联网
• The leader was charged with instigating the workers to put down tools. 那位领导人被指控煽动工人罢工。 来自互联网

3 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

4 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

5 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。

6 enact   

vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演

参考例句：

• The U.S. Congress has exclusive authority to enact federal legislation.美国国会是唯一有权颁布联邦法律的。
• For example,a country can enact laws and economic policies to attract foreign investment fairly quickly.例如一个国家可以很快颁布吸引外资的法令和经济政策。

7 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

9 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

11 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

12 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

13 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

14 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。

15 faltering   

犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• I canfeel my legs faltering. 我感到我的腿在颤抖。

16 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

17 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。