目前美國官員正在注意的另一場沖突在烏克蘭,發(fā)生于東西部分裂勢力之間的戰(zhàn)爭。一方面,多數(shù)烏克蘭人想與歐盟拉近關(guān)系,代表西部方向。他們的新政府認為這是烏克蘭未來的發(fā)展方向。但是另外一些烏克蘭人,特別是東部親俄分裂勢力,想要通過戰(zhàn)爭脫離烏克蘭獨立。西方領(lǐng)導者指責俄羅斯為分裂分子提供武器和部隊支持。俄羅斯重復否認了這一指控。但是美國官員表示大約有1000名俄羅斯士兵在周四越過烏克蘭邊境與烏克蘭分裂分子并肩作戰(zhàn)。
The U.S. is warning Russia of new sanctions, economic penalties if it doesn`t pull back.
美國正在警告俄羅斯要對其展開新的制裁措施,如果他們不撤軍的話將會采取經(jīng)濟處罰。
Putin`s annexation of Crimea and his support for the pro- Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine has raised his popularity with the Russian people. His ratings haven`t been so high since he went to war with another former pro-Western neighbor, Georgia, in 2008. For years, Putin has made keeping Ukraine from joining the European Union and NATO, a major strategic goal. But the recent ouster of pro- Russian president, Victor Yanukovych, has really weakened his influence there. One way to stop Ukraine from joining the West is to make it too unstable by keeping this insurgency running.
普京對克里米亞的攻占和對烏克蘭東部分裂分子的支持提高了他在俄羅斯人民心中的聲望,自從2008年對親西方國家鄰國格魯吉亞發(fā)動戰(zhàn)爭以來他的支持率一直不高。多年來,普京一直把阻止烏克蘭加入歐盟和北約組織看做是戰(zhàn)略目標,但是最近烏克蘭反對親俄總統(tǒng)亞努科維奇確實削弱的他的影響力。組織烏克蘭加入西方國家的一個途徑就是擾亂烏克蘭國內(nèi)的和平穩(wěn)定。
But sticking with the separatists brings Putin problems on the international front. There`s no smoking gun against Russia for the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17, but the Western world says Putin`s support for the separatists has led to this tragedy.
但是分裂分子把普京總統(tǒng)推上了國際舞臺。沒有確鑿證據(jù)證明俄羅斯擊落了馬來西亞航班MH17,但是西方世界稱普京對分裂分子的支持導致了這一悲劇發(fā)生。
The U.S. and the Europe have already imposed sanctions against Russian companies. Entire sectors of the Russian economy could be next. It`s already been tittering on the brink of recession for months, and the damage done to Russia`s world image from the conflict will take years to undo.
美國和歐洲已經(jīng)對俄羅斯所屬公司實施制裁。俄羅斯整個經(jīng)濟行業(yè)可能會是下一個制裁目標。其已經(jīng)對幾個月的經(jīng)濟制裁游走在衰退的邊緣,經(jīng)濟制裁對俄羅斯造成的影響將需要幾年的時間恢復過來。
In the choice between appeasing the Russian public and antagonizing the West, it appears Vladimir Putin has no good options.
對于安撫俄羅斯群眾和對抗西方國家之間,看來弗拉迪米爾普京也沒有什么好的選擇。
Another conflict U.S. officials are watching is in Ukraine. It`s a nation divided between East and West. On one hand, many Ukrainians want closer ties with the European Union, the West. Their new government sees that as the future of Ukraine. But other Ukrainians, especially in some eastern regions are aligned with Russia. Some have been fighting for independence from Ukraine. Western leaders accuse Russia of supporting these rebels with troops and weapons. Russia`s denied that repeatedly. But the U.S. officials says as many as a 1,000 Russian troops cross the border into Ukraine Thursday, to fight alongside the rebels.
The U.S. is warning Russia of new sanctions, economic penalties if it doesn`t pull back.
Putin`s annexation of Crimea and his support for the pro- Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine has raised his popularity with the Russian people. His ratings haven`t been so high since he went to war with another former pro-Western neighbor, Georgia, in 2008. For years, Putin has made keeping Ukraine from joining the European Union and NATO, a major strategic goal. But the recent ouster of pro- Russian president, Victor Yanukovych, has really weakened his influence there. One way to stop Ukraine from joining the West is to make it too unstable by keeping this insurgency running.
But sticking with the separatists brings Putin problems on the international front. There`s no smoking gun against Russia for the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17, but the Western world says Putin`s support for the separatists has led to this tragedy.
The U.S. and the Europe have already imposed sanctions against Russian companies. Entire sectors of the Russian economy could be next. It`s already been tittering on the brink of recession for months, and the damage done to Russia`s world image from the conflict will take years to undo.
In the choice between appeasing the Russian public and antagonizing the West, it appears Vladimir Putin has no good options.