VOA慢速英语:Obama Announces Changes to Hostage Policy

短语讲解：

1. The president also said the government could and would “assist private efforts to communicate with hostage-takers.”

communicate with 与…联系，与…交往; 与…相通
例句：I can communicate with foreigners easily.
我能轻松地和外国人沟通。

2. The United States’ policy bars paying ransoms. However, Mr. Obama said the government will no longer threaten legal action against families who choose to pay ransom to win their relatives' release.

no longer 不再，已不
例句：He could no longer hold back his tears.
他再也忍不住自己的眼泪。

3. Overnight talks about the Ukraine conflict ended late in Paris with little sign of progress.

talk about 讨论，谈论
例句：He went on to talk about his accident.
他接着谈到了他的意外事故。

4. Foreign ministers of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine restated their support for the cease-fire plan agreed to in February at meetings in Minsk, Belarus.

agree to 同意
例句：We cannot agree to consign the goods.
我们不同意寄售此货。