US Assures EU, Seeks ‘Common Ground with Russia”

 

Vice¹ President Mike Pence says the United States will “continue to hold Russia accountable.” But he adds that President Donald Trump² wants to find “new common ground with Russia.”

Pence’s comments came Monday in Brussels, Belgium with European Union Council President Donald Tusk³.

“In the wake of Russian efforts to redraw international borders by force, we will continue to support efforts in Poland and the Baltic states through NATO’s enhanced forward presence initiative. And with regard to Ukraine, the United States will continue to hold Russia accountable and demand that Russia honor the Minsk agreements beginning by de-escalating the violence in eastern Ukraine."

Vice President Pence did not provide any details about possible closer ties with Russia. He said that Trump believes they can be found.

He said cooperation is needed to have free and fair economies, saying “strengthening our economic vitality⁴ will require hard but necessary choices.”

US- EU relations

Pence is on his first trip to Europe since taking office. There have been concerns about the new administration’s “America First” policy. The purpose of the trip is to let allies know that the U.S. remains⁵ a loyal friend.

The vice president said he was speaking for Trump when he expressed U.S. commitment “to continued cooperation and partnership⁶ with the European Union.”

"Whatever our differences, our two continents share the same heritage, the same values, and above all the same purpose, to promote peace and prosperity through freedom, democracy and the rule of law. And to those objectives we will remain committed."

Donald Tusk of the EU said Monday’s meeting was “truly needed.” He said that he heard from Pence words that are promising⁷ about the future, and explain the Trump administration’s views.

Last month in interviews with two European newspapers, Trump said he thought other countries would follow Britain in leaving the EU.

Tusk talked about the importance of the EU. He said "Americans know best what great value it is to be united."

Earlier Monday Pence held talks with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. She said on Twitter the two had an "excellent meeting, good basis for our cooperation." Pence also met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the afternoon to close his European trip.

The vice president expressed support for NATO at the alliance’s security conference in Munich last Saturday. His comments came after Trump’s campaign statements described NATO as “obsolete,” meaning no longer useful.

"The United States of America strongly supports NATO and will be unwavering in our commitment to our transatlantic alliance," Pence said in his first major foreign policy address for the new administration.

Pence, his wife, Karen, and daughter Charlotte visited the Dachau concentration camp memorial early Sunday. The camp was the first one established by the Nazi⁸ government in 1933 near Munich. It was where an estimated “countless thousands” Jews and other political prisoners died or were killed.

Words in This Story

initiative – n. a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem

de-escalate – v. to slow down or decrease

vitality – n. lively or energetic quality

necessary – adj. so important you must do it or have it, an absolute need

unequivocal – adj. very strong and clear with no doubt

unwavering – adj. continuing in a strong and steady way

1 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。

2 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

3 tusk   

n.獠牙，长牙，象牙

参考例句：

• The wild boar had its tusk sunk deeply into a tree and howled desperately.野猪的獠牙陷在了树里，绝望地嗥叫着。
• A huge tusk decorated the wall of his study.他书房的墙上装饰着一支巨大的象牙。

4 vitality   

n.活力，生命力，效力

参考例句：

• He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。
• He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

7 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。

8 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。