VOA标准英语2017--暴力在乌克兰东部蔓延

 

The United States is monitoring the growing violence in eastern Ukraine, and is concerned by the failure of combined-Russian separatist forces to honor the ceasefire, which Russia committed to do when it signed the Minsk agreements.‎ ‎

The United States condemns¹ the recent targeting of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission monitors and the seizure² of an unmanned aerial vehicle by combined-Russian separatist forces. It is imperative³ that these forces halt their attacks on civilian⁴ infrastructure⁵, including the Donetsk water filtration station. The United States also calls on Russia and the separatist forces it backs to immediately observe the ceasefire, withdraw all heavy weapons, and allow full and unfettered access to the OSCE monitors.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the United States is ready to work with Russia if it finds common areas for cooperation, but he emphasized that Russia must implement⁶ its commitments under the Minsk agreements.

"As we search for new common ground, we expect Russia to honor its commitment to the Minsk agreements and work to de-escalate violence in Ukraine," Secretary Tillerson told reporters on February 16 after meeting with his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Bonn.

Secretary Tillerson said the United States would stand up for its interests in areas where differences exist with Russia.

In a written statement, Acting⁷ State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner said, "We call on Russia and the separatist forces it backs to immediately observe the cease-fire, withdraw all heavy weapons, and allow full and unfettered access to the OSCE monitors."

1 condemns   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• Her widowhood condemns her to a lonely old age. 守寡使她不得不过着孤独的晚年生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The public opinion condemns prostitution. 公众舆论遣责卖淫。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。

3 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

4 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。