A comprehensive article, published on December 23, 2014, in People's Network, Beijing, and referring to China's press agency
Xin Hua 新华, is discussing certain aspects of western sanctions recently put into effect against Russia as far as they might hint at a possible crack between the U.S. and their allies in Europe. Here some quotations from that article in the English translation:
西方“反俄同盟”出现裂痕?
Title: Is there a Crack in the Western Alliance against Russia ?
“如果危机完全失控，这不符合我们的利益，”德国外长针对欧盟对俄罗斯制裁如是质疑。
" If the crisis runs completely out of control, this doesn't accord with our interests ", Germany's foreign minister [said], thus hinting at EU sanctions for Russia when that question was raised.
近日，在俄罗斯遭受油价和卢布汇率暴跌的威胁之际，欧美对俄罗斯发起了新一轮的制裁。其中，欧盟进一步限制对克里米亚和塞瓦斯托波尔进行贸易和投资活动，美国
禁止投资克里米亚或对这一地区进出口货物、技术和服务。
Recently, on the occasion of Russia suffering from a steep fall of the oil price and the rouble exchange rate, the European - U.S. alliance launched a new round of sanctions against Russia. In that frame, the European Union placed further restrictions on trade and investment activities regarding Crimea and Sevastopol, [while] the United States prohibited investment in Crimea [including] import and export of goods, technology and trade from that area.
今年以来，在美国的施压下，欧盟谨慎地一步步升级对俄制裁措施。对俄罗斯的连番经济打击，在令俄经济处境困难的同时，德国也坐不住了。德国外长似乎唱起了
反调，称试图通过经济手段迫使俄罗斯妥协同时强化欧洲地区安全形势是错误的想法。而德国总理默克尔更是公开表示，德国愿与俄罗斯共同应对国际安全挑战，
双方往来应继续深化，德方会维护与俄方的伙伴关系原则。作为欧盟核心大国，德国的抱怨似乎暴露了西方“反俄同盟”离心离德的一面。
From this year on and due to U.S. pressure, the European Union will step by step carefully escalate its punishing measures towards Russia. Joint economic attacks against Russia at the same time of an unfavourable and difficult situation in Russia cannot leave Germany sitting still any longer. Germany's foreign minister has seemingly sung an opposing tune, calling a wrong idea the circumstances of an attempt to adopt economic measures that would force Russia to compromise and, at the same time, strengthen Europe's regional safety. And German chancellor Merkel even more publicly shows that Germany is hoping to answer all challenges to international safety
together with Russia. .....
站在欧盟的对面，强硬的普京并非莽撞之辈，给了欧盟大国一定的台阶下。在备受关注的法俄“西北方”级两栖攻击舰交易问题上，法国在压力之下，一再推迟向俄方交付已经建造好的军舰，俄方曾就此威胁法方将赔付巨额违约金。然而，普京本月6日却大方地表示，希望法国能履行合同内容，不过，即使法国不交付战舰，俄方也不会索赔，但希望法方如数退还定金。
Opposing the EU's position, a tough Putin, not being the crude and impetuous guy, [turned down] the big countries of the EU.
While being fixed on the matter of a French-Russian "North-Western" amphibious warship deal, France is [now] under pressure. Another delay of delivery to Russia of already built warships, [and] the Russian side [might] threaten France to compensate for a huge sum of money for violating the treaty. When on December 6, Putin stepped back from a manifestation of generosity, he expected France to be able to fulfill the contract's content. If not [and] even if France doesn't deliver the warships, Russia would not be able to claim damages, but would expect France to exactly return the prefixed sum of money.
美国远在天边可以隔岸观火，与俄罗斯相邻却是欧盟无法回避的宿命。围绕乌克兰危机进行的“反俄斗法”，欧盟同样付出了不小的代价。欧盟国家还能否继续亦步亦趋
地伙同美国保持“反俄同盟”的团结，将是俄罗斯密切留心的微妙话题。（文/刘小军）(来源:新华国际)
America being far away, can watch a fire from the other side of the ocean. The European Union, however, is incapable of evading fatalism while being Russia's neighbour. With an "anti-Russian way of contest" underway and which is centered around the Ukrainian crisis, the EU has equally paid [its] price, which was far from being low. Whether or not the countries of the European Union can still continue imitating every move [while] rallying around the "anti-Russian alliance" maintained in league with America, is a delicate topic, closely and carefully [observed] by Russia.
Russian visitor to "blueprint news" from the region bordering Ukraine.
