VOA常速英语:马蒂斯：美国或向乌克兰输送防御性致命武器

The United States has provided hundreds of millions of dollars and aiding equipment for Ukrainians defending their country from Russian-backed separatist and a war that has killed more than ten thousand Ukrainians.And now, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the Trump administration is strongly considering providing lethal weapons to Ukrainian forces.
美国提供了数亿美元和武器装备，帮助乌克兰人保卫国家，反抗俄罗斯支持的分裂主义者，摆脱这场夺走了上万名乌克兰人生命的战争。而现在，国防部长马蒂斯表示，特朗普政府正在认真考虑向乌克兰部队提供致命性武器。

“We are actively reviewing it, I will go back now, having seen the current situation and being able to inform the Secretary of State and the President in the very specific terms what I recommend for the direction ahead.”
“我们正在积极考虑。看到了当前的状况，很快我回国之后，就能够非常具体地告知国务卿和总统我所建议的未来方向。”

The issue of providing defensive weapons to Ukraine has been justified by some who know the country needs the tools to protect itself from Russia’s attacks against its sovereignty including annexing Crimea and supporting separatist in the east.
有些人认为乌克兰需要防御性武器来保护自己，抵御俄罗斯对其主权的攻击。这类的威胁包括俄罗斯吞并克里米亚并为乌克兰东部的分裂主义者提供支持。

“We do not and we will not accept Russia’s seizure of the Crimea.And despite Russia’s denials, we know they are seeking to redraw national borders by force.”
“我们现在不接受、将来也不会接受俄罗斯吞并克里米亚的行为。尽管俄罗斯方面多次否认，但我们知道他们正在试图通过武力重新划定国际边界。”

Others worry providing such weapons will provoke Russia and escalate the conflict, causing even more Ukrainians to die.
也有些人担心，提供此类武器可能触怒俄罗斯，使冲突愈演愈烈，导致更多的乌克兰人丧生。

“The morality of doing something that would have a counterproductive result struck Obama as a mistake. That was his interpretation, we don’t know where President Trump’s interpretation will wind up.”
“对奥巴马而言，一件事情如果会产生反效果，那就是一个错误。那是他的诠释。我们不知道特朗普总统的诠释会是什么。”

Mattis visited the country a day before an expected cease-fire in eastern Ukraine to coincide with the start with the new school year.But experts caution the cease-fire could be a tactical and self-serving move by the Russians.
马蒂斯访问乌克兰的第二天，乌克兰东部地区计划实施停火，以配合一个崭新学年的开始。但是，专家警告停火可能是俄罗斯的伎俩和满足自身利益的策略。

“I don’t believe it will be likely to endure but it’s probably a negotiating ploy to try to get the United States and other countries and actors to see things more in favor of avoiding any escalation and avoiding giving weaponry to the Ukraine.”
“我不认为停火能坚持下去，但是那很有可能是让美国还有其他国家和相关行为者掉入的协商圈套，让大家更倾向于避免冲突升级，也避免向乌克兰输送武器。”

American officials say they continue to remain committed to diplomatically resolving the conflict in Ukraine.But as Afghanistan, the Islamic State militant group and North Korea have emerged as high U.S. priorities in recent weeks,some fear the conflict in Ukraine will be overshadowed.
美国官员表示，他们承诺将继续致力于通过外交努力解决乌克兰东部冲突。但是，最近几周，随着阿富汗、“伊斯兰国”武装组织和朝鲜成为美国的主要关注点，一些人士担心乌克兰冲突会被忽略掉。

Carla Babb, VOA News, the Pentagon.
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