Approval ratings for Russian President Vladimir Putin are near record highs. Experts say the former spy is determined to restore Russia to what he sees as its rightful place in the world. |
普京:“孤獨(dú)的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人”致力于重建俄羅斯政權(quán)
The Russian economy has faced a crisis in recent months, partly because of the sharp drop in oil prices.Yet, public approval ratings for Russian President Vladimir Putin are near record highs.
最近幾月,俄羅斯經(jīng)濟(jì)遭受危機(jī),部分原因是因?yàn)槭蛢r(jià)格下降。但是公眾對(duì)俄羅斯總統(tǒng)普京的支持率創(chuàng)紀(jì)錄的高。
Western measures against Russia have failed to reduce its interference in Ukraine. Russia watchers say Mr. Putin is working to return Russia to what he sees as its rightful place in the world, by any means available.
西方國家對(duì)俄羅斯采取的措施沒有減少俄羅斯對(duì)烏克蘭的干預(yù)。俄羅斯觀察者稱:普京致力于讓俄羅斯重獲世界應(yīng)有的地位,為此,會(huì)采取任何有效方法。
Last Monday, the Russian leader took part in “Defender of the Fatherland Day” observances in Moscow. The event honors his country’s military victories and former members of the armed forces. However, it was not a victory but a defeat that defines Mr. Putin’s way of thinking. Edward Lucas wrote a book called The NewCold War. He says the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 had a major effect on the future Russian president.
上周一,俄羅斯領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人參加了莫斯科的“保衛(wèi)祖國節(jié)日”的活動(dòng)儀式。這一活動(dòng)為了紀(jì)念國家取得的軍事勝利以及軍隊(duì)退伍的成員。但是,這個(gè)慶祝活動(dòng)不是一場勝利,而是普京思維方式錯(cuò)誤的一敗筆。愛德華·盧卡斯寫了一本《新冷戰(zhàn)》的書,他表示:1991年蘇聯(lián)的解體對(duì)未來俄羅斯總統(tǒng)有非常大的影響。
“He wants, feels that Russia was cheated in the 1990s, and that the Soviet Union was humiliated 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.”
“他希望、感覺俄羅斯在20世紀(jì)90年代的時(shí)候被騙了,蘇聯(lián)被西方國家羞辱、推翻,現(xiàn)在是時(shí)候重新得到我們失去的東西——不僅包括國際地位,還有失去的領(lǐng)土。”
Western leaders say those ideas are being expressed in Ukraine. They accuse the Russian president of sending troops across the border -- a claim Russia denies. The West has taken steps against several oligarchs -- high-level people close to the president. But those measures have had little effect, says writer Ben Judah.
西方領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人稱這些想法在烏克蘭問題上體現(xiàn)了出來。他們指責(zé)俄羅斯總統(tǒng)向兩國邊界派軍——俄羅斯予以否認(rèn)。西方國家已經(jīng)采取措施來對(duì)抗這幾個(gè)寡頭——跟蹤通關(guān)系近的高層人員。但是作家本·猶大稱這些措施基本上沒有什么作用。
“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.”
“措施收效甚微表明沒有更多的寡頭了,普京實(shí)行獨(dú)裁統(tǒng)治,有很多人完全依賴普京來尋求他們的財(cái)富以及在俄羅斯政治中的地位。”
Ben Judah told Vladimir Putin’s life story in the book Fragile Empire. He says the president feels he is the only person who can lead and rebuild the Russian nation.
但是本·猶大在《脆弱的帝國》一書中講述了普京一生的故事。他表示總統(tǒng)認(rèn)為自己是唯一一個(gè)能夠引領(lǐng)重建俄羅斯的人。
“Whether he needs to do that through war, he’ll do that through war. If he needs to do that through economic growth, he’ll do that through economic growth. If he’s going, the only way to do that is through nationalism and confrontation with the West, he’ll do that.”
“如果重建俄羅斯需要通過戰(zhàn)爭,那他就會(huì)發(fā)動(dòng)戰(zhàn)爭。如果需要通過經(jīng)濟(jì)增長來振興俄羅斯,那他就會(huì)采取保持經(jīng)濟(jì)增長的措施。如果唯一的方式是通過民族主義和與西方對(duì)抗的話,那他就會(huì)這樣做。”
Mr. Putin was an officer in the KGB -- the intelligence service of the Soviet Union. He rose to the position of Lieutenant Colonel. Edward Lucas says his years with the KGB were a major influence.
普京曾任克格勃——蘇聯(lián)情報(bào)部門的軍官。他升到中校的位置,愛德華·盧卡斯說普京在克格勃任職期間的影響很大。
“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.”
“他保留的無情、偏執(zhí)的世界觀是克格勃的標(biāo)志。他喜歡出風(fēng)頭,從一個(gè)幕后成為一個(gè)國際形象,他喜歡任何能夠讓他獲得關(guān)注的事。”
While Mr. Putin may enjoy being president, he admitted last year that he has few friends. He spoke with Russia’s state-operated news agency.
但是普京似乎很享受做總統(tǒng),他接受俄羅斯國營新聞機(jī)構(gòu)采訪時(shí)表示去年幾乎沒有什么朋友。
He said, “You know, I don’t feel lonely, as strange as that may sound. Friendly meetings, contact -- I don’t have much, even with people whom I consider my friends.”
普京稱:“我不感到孤單,這聽起來也許有點(diǎn)奇怪。友好的會(huì)晤、接觸——我并沒有很多活動(dòng),甚至跟朋友也很少聚。”
Such openness is rare. Mr. Putin has sought to present an image of strength. He was famously pictured riding a horse without anything on the upper half of his body. Other pictures have shown him exploring a ship wreck and flying a microlight aircraft.
這樣公開的內(nèi)容很少見,普京力求展現(xiàn)強(qiáng)勢的形象。他最出名的一張照片是騎著馬上半身什么也沒穿。其它一些照片顯示他探索一艘殘骸船,以及駕駛一艘輕型飛機(jī)。
Ben Judah says Mr. Putin’s public image hides his insecurities.
但是猶大表示普京的公眾形象掩藏了他的不安感。
“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.”
“普京是位非常孤單、不開心、又很孤立的人,害怕身體機(jī)能的衰退,自我感覺有深深的遺憾,他需要幫俄羅斯度過難關(guān),他需要面對(duì)這些問題。”
Observers say such complexities are important to understanding the man leading the Russian government. They say he is prepared to re-establish his country’s power and honor at almost any cost.
觀察者稱這些復(fù)雜的情況對(duì)于了解俄羅斯政府的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人來說非常重要。他們稱普京準(zhǔn)備不惜任何代價(jià)恢復(fù)國家政權(quán)和榮譽(yù)。
I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.
我是克里斯托弗·瓊斯·格魯斯。
Correspondent Henry Ridgwell reported this story from London. George Growwrote it in VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter edited the story.
______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
means – n. something useful leading to a desired end
oligarch(s) – n. one of a few people who control power in a country
ruthless – adj. uncaring; unfeeling
paranoid – adj. feeling that others want to harm you; having a mental disorderthat causes people to falsely believe others want to harm them
limelight – n. the center of attention
isolate(d) – adj. separated from others
decay – n. the loss of strength and health; being slowly destroyed by naturalprocesses of aging
pity – n. a feeling of sadness or sympathy
bear this cross – phrase to suffer like the Christian savior Jesus Christ didwhen he was executed
What do you believe motivates Mr. Putin? We want to hear from you. Write your thoughts in the comments section.
Approval ratings for Russian President Vladimir Putin are near record highs. Experts say the former spy is determined to restore Russia to what he sees as its rightful place in the world. |
The Russian economy has faced a crisis in recent months, partly because of the sharp drop in oil prices.Yet, public approval ratings for Russian President Vladimir Putin are near record highs.
Western measures against Russia have failed to reduce its interference in Ukraine. Russia watchers say Mr. Putin is working to return Russia to what he sees as its rightful place in the world, by any means available.
Last Monday, the Russian leader took part in “Defender of the Fatherland Day” observances in Moscow. The event honors his country’s military victories and former members of the armed forces. However, it was not avictory but a defeat that defines Mr. Putin’s way of thinking. Edward Lucas wrote a book called The NewCold War. He says the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 had a major effect on the future Russian president.
“He wants, feels that Russia was cheated in the 1990s, and that the Soviet Union was humiliated and toppled by the West, and it’s time to get back what was lost -- bothin terms of status, but also in terms of territory.”
Western leaders say those ideas are being expressed in Ukraine. They accuse the Russian president of sending troops across the border -- a claim Russia denies. The West has taken steps against several oligarchs -- high-level people close to the president. But those measures have had little effect, says writer Ben Judah.
“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.”
Ben Judah told Vladimir Putin’s life story in the book Fragile Empire. He says the president feels he is the only person who can lead and rebuild the Russian nation.
“Whether he needs to do that through war, he’ll do that through war. If he needs to do that through economic growth, he’ll do that through economic growth. If he’s going, the only way to do that is through nationalism and confrontation with the West, he’ll do that.”
Mr. Putin was an officer in the KGB -- the intelligence service of the Soviet Union. He rose to the position of Lieutenant Colonel. Edward Lucas says his years with the KGB were a major influence.
“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.”
While Mr. Putin may enjoy being president, he admitted last year that he has few friends. He spoke with Russia’s state-operated news agency.
He said, “You know, I don’t feel lonely, as strange as that may sound. Friendly meetings, contact -- I don’t have much, even with people whom I consider my friends.”
Such openness is rare. Mr. Putin has sought to present an image of strength. He was famously pictured riding a horse without anything on the upper half of his body. Other pictures have shown him exploring a ship wreck and flying a microlight aircraft.
Ben Judah says Mr. Putin’s public image hides his insecurities.
“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.”
Observers say such complexities are important to understanding the man leading the Russian government. They say he is prepared to re-establish hiscountry’s power and honor at almost any cost.
I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.
Correspondent Henry Ridgwell reported this story from London. George Growwrote it in VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter edited the story.
______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
means – n. something useful leading to a desired end
oligarch(s) – n. one of a few people who control power in a country
ruthless – adj. uncaring; unfeeling
paranoid – adj. feeling that others want to harm you; having a mental disorderthat causes people to falsely believe others want to harm them
limelight – n. the center of attention
isolate(d) – adj. separated from others
decay – n. the loss of strength and health; being slowly destroyed by naturalprocesses of aging
pity – n. a feeling of sadness or sympathy
bear this cross – phrase to suffer like the Christian savior Jesus Christ didwhen he was executed
What do you believe motivates Mr. Putin? We want to hear from you. Write your thoughts in the comments section.
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