美國加緊施壓俄羅斯從烏克蘭撤軍

The US demanded that Moscow pull its troops out of Ukraine after Vladimir Putin appeared to take a step back from deeper confrontation with the west, by saying Russia would use further military action only as a “last resort”.

美國要求莫斯科方面撤出其在烏克蘭的軍隊。此前，弗拉基米爾•普京(Vladimir Putin)似乎後退了一步，以避免和西方發生更嚴重的對抗。他表示，俄羅斯將把採取進一步的軍事行動作爲“最後的手段”。

In Kiev, John Kerry warned that the US would isolate Russia “politically, economically and diplomatically” unless it withdrew the forces that have seized control of Crimea.

在基輔，美國國務卿約翰•克里(John Kerry)警告，除非俄羅斯撤出奪取了克里米亞控制權的部隊，否則美國將從“政治、經濟和外交上”孤立俄羅斯。

Washington stepped up pressure on Russia just hours after Mr Putin made his first public statement since Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich was ousted 10 days ago. He said the option of force remained open but would be a “last resort”.

華盛頓方面加緊對俄羅斯施壓的數小時前，普京表示，不排除動武的可能，但那將是“最後的手段”。這是烏克蘭總統維克托•亞努科維奇(Viktor Yanukovich)被推翻10天來普京首次公開表態。

President Barack Obama said the US and its allies had a “strong belief Russia’s actions violated international law”. He added: “I know Mr Putin seems to have a different set of lawyers with a different set of interpretations but I don’t think that is fooling anyone.”

巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)總統表示，美國及其盟友“堅信俄羅斯的行動違反了國際法”。他補充道：“我想普京先生可能有一套不同的律師班子，有一套不同的解讀，但我不認爲這會矇騙任何人。”

Despite robust language there were signs that Washington and Moscow were seeking to de-escalate the most serious east-west tensions since the cold war. But illustrating the conflicting messages, Russia’s RIA-Novosti news agency last night reported the country had test-fired an intercontinental missile.

儘管言辭強硬，但有跡象表明，美俄正試圖給冷戰以來最嚴重的東西方緊張態勢“降溫”。不過，與此相矛盾的消息是，俄新社(RIA-Novosti)昨夜報道，俄羅斯試射了一枚洲際導彈。

Arseny Yatseniuk, Ukrainian premier, confirmed tentative contacts between his new government and Moscow, confirming remarks made by Mr Putin.

烏克蘭總理阿爾謝尼•亞採紐克(Arseny Yatseniuk)證實，烏克蘭新政府和莫斯科方面已進行了初步接觸。此言證實了普京的話。

But in a sign that Moscow intends to put economic pressure on Kiev, Gazprom said it would raise gas prices to Ukraine from next month, after agreeing a 30 per cent price discount in December. Mr Putin insisted that the move was not political and that Kiev had not paid a $1.5bn debt to Gazprom.

但有跡象表明，俄羅斯有意從經濟上向基輔方面施加壓力。俄羅斯天然氣工業股份公司(Gazprom)將從下月起上調供應烏克蘭的天然氣價格。去年12月，該公司曾同意給予烏克蘭30%的價格優惠。普京堅持表示，此舉沒有政治動機，而且烏克蘭尚未償付其欠Gazprom公司的15億美元債務。

The White House signalled support for Ukraine’s new leadership by saying it would provide $1bn in loan guarantees.

美國宣佈將向烏克蘭提供10億美元的貸款擔保，以顯示對該國新領導層的支持。

Markets rallied amid signs of easing tensions, with Russian equities rebounding 5.3 per cent after the previous day’s 11 per cent slump, and the rouble gaining 1 per cent.

緊張趨緩的跡象推動市場反彈。俄羅斯股市在經歷了週一11%的暴跌後，昨日反彈5.3%。盧布匯率走高1%。

Analysts said the tensions could still put pressure on the countries. JPMorgan cut its 2014 Russian growth forecast to 0.8 per cent from 1.9 per cent, and forecast Ukraine’s economy would shrink 3.2 per cent.

分析師表示，緊張的局勢仍可能給俄烏兩國造成壓力。摩根大通(JPMorgan)將2014年俄羅斯經濟增長預期從1.9%下調至0.8%，並預測烏克蘭經濟將萎縮3.2%。

Earlier, Moscow said it had ordered 150,000 troops involved in exercises close to Ukraine’s border to return to their bases.

俄羅斯早些時候表示，已命令其在接近烏邊境地區參加演練的15萬人的部隊返回營地。