双语时事:俄罗斯乌克兰未能达成天然气输送协议

2014-10-28 13:58:28来源：网络

　　The standoff between Russia and Ukraine is delicate for the European Union, which is relianton the shipment of gas through Ukraine for about a fifth of its gas supplies. Gazprom, Russia'snatural-gas giant, shut the taps in 2006 and 2009 because of disputes with Ukraine, leavingmany homes in Central and Eastern Europe without heat.

　　对欧盟而言，俄罗斯与乌克兰之间的对峙是个微妙的问题。欧盟所需天然气供应量的五分之一，得经由乌克兰境内的输油管道运送。由于与乌克兰发生争议，天然气巨头俄罗斯天然气工业股份公司(Gazprom，简称俄气公司)曾在2006年和2009年切断天然气供应，致使东欧和中欧的许多家庭失去供暖。

　　Russia raised its gas prices to Ukraine early this year, and Gazprom halted exports in Junebecause of the size of Ukraine's outstanding bills. But the Ukrainians have accused theRussians of deliberately setting unfair terms to penalize the government in Kiev for tyingitself more closely to the West.

　　俄罗斯在今年年初上调了向乌克兰出口天然气的价格;由于乌克兰拖欠巨额货款，今年6月，俄气公司停止了对它的天然气出口。但乌克兰人控诉称，为了惩罚与西方关系愈发密切的位于基辅的乌国政府，俄方故意设置了不公平的条件。

　　The gas feud represents another front between Ukraine and Russia. Skirmishing in easternUkraine has continued in recent weeks between pro-Russian rebels and forces allied with thegovernment in Kiev despite a cease-fire.

　　乌克兰和俄罗斯在天然气问题上一直存在纠纷，这是两国间的第二条战线。最近几周，在乌克兰东部，亲俄反叛分子与乌克兰政府军仍有小型冲突，尽管双方已经达成了一项停火协议。

　　Key sticking points in the gas talks have been how to calculate the size of Ukraine's debt andhow quickly it should be repaid. One remaining question is whether the European Union willstep in to help Ukraine pay its bills.

　　天然气谈判的主要症结在于，如何估算乌克兰的债务规模，以及乌克兰应该以多快的速度清偿债务。余下的问题是，欧盟是否会介入，帮乌克兰还债。

　　Of the $3.1 billion that Ukraine was agreeing to pay toward settling its debt, an amount of $1.6billion "is still lacking," Alexander Novak, the Russian energy minister, told reporters.

　　俄罗斯能源部长亚历山大·诺瓦克(Alexander Novak)告诉记者，乌克兰同意支付31亿美元结清债务，“目前尚缺”16亿美元。

　　"This cash gap requires funding," said Mr. Novak, who suggested that the European Union"should examine the situation and share some of that burden."

　　诺瓦克说，“这个资金缺口需要填补。”他建议欧盟“审时度势，分担一些债务”。

　　For the Ukrainian energy minister, Yuri Prodan, the main contention appeared to be the termson which it had agreed to buy further supplies of gas, at $385 per 1,000 cubic meters.

　　乌克兰已经同意以每立方千米385美元的价格购买俄罗斯今后供应的天然气，对该国能源部长尤里·普罗丹(Yuri Prodan)而言，争论的关键似乎是其所附带的条件。

　　"The situation needs to be regulated in a fashion so as to continue until spring of next year,"said Mr. Prodan, who called for a binding agreement locking in that price.

　　“需要以某种方式限定价格，以便在明天春天之前保持价格的稳定，”普罗丹说。他主张签订一个具有约束力的协议，锁定这一价格。

本文关键字: 俄罗斯乌克兰未能达成天然气输送协议