VOA标准英语2015--Putin: The ‘Lonely’ Leader Bent on Restoring Russian Powe

Putin: The ‘Lonely’ Leader Bent¹ on Restoring Russian Power

LONDON—

Despite Russia’s crisis-hit economy, approval ratings for President Vladimir Putin are near record-highs. Western sanctions against Moscow have failed to curb² what the West sees as Russian interference in Ukraine. Putin analysts³ say the former spy is determined⁴ to restore Russia to what he sees as its rightful place in the world - by any means available.

Marching solemnly to place a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier next to the walls of the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin marked ‘Defender of the Fatherland Day’ Monday - a national holiday to honor Russia’s military victories and war veterans. But it was a strategic defeat - the fall of the Soviet⁵ empire in 1991 - that defines Putin’s vision, says Edward Lucas, author of the book The New Cold War.

“He feels that Russia was cheated in the 1990s and that the Soviet Union was humiliated⁶ and toppled by the West, and it’s time to get back what was lost, both in terms of status but also in terms of territory,” says Lucas.

‘A Putin dictatorship’

Western leaders say that vision is being rolled out in Ukraine and they accuse Putin of sending troops over the border - a charge the Kremlin denies. The West has enacted⁷ sanctions against several oligarchs close to Putin. They’ve had little effect, says Ben Judah, author of the Putin biography Fragile Empire.

“What that shows is that there aren’t any oligarchs anymore. There is a Putin dictatorship, and there are people who are completely dependent on him for their wealth or their role in Russian politics,” says he.

Judah says Vladimir Putin feels he is the only person who can lead and revive the Russian nation.

“Whether he needs to do that through war, he’ll do that through war; whether he needs to do that through economic growth, he’ll do that through economic growth. If the only way to do that is through nationalism and confrontation⁸ with the West, he’ll do that,” says Judah.

‘Ruthless and paranoid’

Vladimir Putin was an officer in the Soviet Union’s intelligence service, the KGB, rising to the rank of lieutenant⁹ colonel. That’s left an indelible mark, says Edward Lucas.

“He retains the ruthless and paranoid world view which is the hallmark of the KGB. He’s also come to love the limelight, and he’s gone from the shadows to being an international figure and he enjoys everything that comes with that,” says Lucas.  

Despite such prominence¹⁰, Putin admitted in a November interview with the state-run news agency that he has few friends.

“You know, I don't feel lonely, as strange as that may sound,” he told reporters. “Friendly meetings, contact - I don't have much, even with people whom I consider my friends,” said Putin.

‘Deeply isolated¹¹’

Such candor¹² is rare. Putin has sought to project an image of masculinity. He was famously pictured without a shirt riding a horse, exploring a shipwreck¹³ in a mini-submarine and filmed flying a microlight aircraft alongside a flock of cranes. The image hides insecurities, says Ben Judah.

“Putin is a very lonely, very unhappy, deeply isolated man, terrified of physical decay, and a man who feels enormous self-pity that he has to bear this cross of Russia, that he has to confront these forces,” says Judah.

Analysts say such complexities¹⁴ are crucial to understanding the man behind the modern day Kremlin: a president and former spy determined to restore Russian power and pride at almost any cost.

1 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

2 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

3 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。

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

6 humiliated   

感到羞愧的

参考例句：

• Parents are humiliated if their children behave badly when guests are present. 子女在客人面前举止失当，父母也失体面。
• He was ashamed and bitterly humiliated. 他感到羞耻，丢尽了面子。

7 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

8 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

9 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

10 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

11 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

12 candor   

n.坦白，率真

参考例句：

• He covered a wide range of topics with unusual candor.他极其坦率地谈了许多问题。
• He and his wife had avoided candor,and they had drained their marriage.他们夫妻间不坦率，已使婚姻奄奄一息。

13 shipwreck   

n.船舶失事，海难

参考例句：

• He walked away from the shipwreck.他船难中平安地脱险了。
• The shipwreck was a harrowing experience.那次船难是一个惨痛的经历。

14 complexities   

复杂性(complexity的名词复数)； 复杂的事物

参考例句：

• The complexities of life bothered him. 生活的复杂使他困惑。
• The complexities of life bothered me. 生活的杂乱事儿使我心烦。