Читай новости и учи английский – Russia election and muted Western reaction to Putin victory

Доброе утро! В наших выпусках мы не обходим стороной важнейшие события в мире, поэтому сегодня предлагаем статью о выборах президента в соседней стране – России, и о реакции мировых лидеров. В новости много общественно-политической лексики, также упоминается Украина, и как всегда, вам пригодятся лексические и грамматические объяснения. Подойдет для студентов уровня Intetmediate и выше.

Russia election: Muted Western reaction to Putin victory

World leaders are congratulating Vladimir Putin on his election for a new six-year term as Russian president, but Western leaders have been slow to respond amid recent tensions.

Mr Putin got more than 76% of the vote, official results show. 
But European observers said that while the poll was conducted efficiently there was a lack of genuine choice.
The main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, was barred from the race.

What has been the reaction around the world?
In a congratulatory message to Mr Putin, China's Mr Xi said: "Currently, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is at the best level in history, which sets an example for building a new type of international relations."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke to Mr Putin about working towards the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
The leaders of Iran, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba were among others who sent their best wishes.
Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said she would send the Russian president a telegram "very soon".
"We have differences of opinion with Russia and we very clearly criticise Russia's policies on some issues - Ukraine, Syria," he said.
Tensions between Russia and the West have deepened in recent weeks after the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain. The UK government blamed the nerve agent attack on Russia.

The UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats from London, prompting a tit-for-tat response from Moscow. The US, which has backed the UK's condemnation of Russia, recently imposed sanctions on a group of Russians over alleged interference in the 2016 election.

Sunday's vote was also the first in Crimea since Russia seized the region from Ukraine. Mr Putin's victory rally coincided with the anniversary of the annexation.
Russians living in Ukraine were unable to take part in Sunday's vote because access to Russian diplomatic missions was blocked by the Kiev government.

What next for Russia?
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow says a sudden thaw with the West seems unlikely, given Mr Putin's first comments after his victory.
The question also remains about whether Mr Putin will continue as president after this term ends.
According to the constitution he is required to step down in 2024, but he could change the rules to eliminate term limits.
However, he does not seem willing to carry on for too long, and laughed off a question from a journalist about standing in 2030.

Adapted from www.bbc.com

VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR:

• Muted Western reaction – сдержанная реакция Запада.
• World leaders are congratulating Vladimir Putin on his election – мировые лидеры приветствуют Владимира Путина с победой. Обратите внимание, что после глагола congratulate употребляется предлог on, избегайте кальки.
• six-year term – шестилетний срок. Подобные выражения являются прилагательными, поэтому множество не нужно: five-year-old boy, thirty-page book.
• amid recent tensions – учитывая недавнее напряжение. 
• European observers said that while the poll was conducted efficiently… – Европейские наблюдатели заявили, что в то время как голосование прошло успешно ...
• lack of genuine choice – недостаток настоящего выбора.
• was barred from the race – был отстранен от гонок.
• comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership – комплексное стратегическое совместное партнерство.
• denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula – лишение Корейского полуострова ядерного оружия.
• spokesman for German Chancellor – представитель немецкого канцлера.
• we very clearly criticise Russia's policies on some issues – мы достаточно четко критикуем политику России по определенным вопросам.
• Tensions between Russia and the West – напряжение между Россией и Западом.
• the nerve agent – ядовитое вещество нервнопаралитического действия.
• expelled 23 Russian diplomats – выдворили 23 российских дипломата.
• prompting a tit-for-tat response from Moscow – побуждая зеркальный ответ Москвы. Tit-for-tat – это идиома, означающая «око за око, зуб за зуб».
• The US, which has backed the UK's condemnation of Russia – США, которые поддержали осуждение России Великобританией.
• imposed sanctions – наложили санкции.
• alleged interference in the 2016 election – возможное вмешательство в выборы 2016 году. Alleged – очень часто употребляемое слово в печати, поскольку много заявлений часто бывают необоснованными.
• since Russia seized the region – с тех пор, как Россия захватила регион.
• Mr Putin's victory rally coincided with the anniversary of the annexation – победные гонки Путина совпали с годовщиной аннексии.
• access to Russian diplomatic missions was blocked – доступ к российскому диппредставительству был заблокирован.
• a sudden thaw with the West seems unlikely – внезапная оттепель (либерализация) в отношениях с Западом достаточно маловероятна.
• given Mr Putin's first comments after his victory – учитывая первые комментарии Путина после победы.
• after this term ends – после того, как его срок закончится. Помним, что после таких слов как after, before, when, if, as soon as т.д. употребляется настоящее время в значении будущего.
• According to the constitution he is required to step down in 2024 – по конституции он обязан подать в отставку в 2024 году.
• to eliminate term limits – снять ограничения срока.
• laughed off a question from a journalist about standing in 2030 – рассмеялся вопрос журналиста о выдвижении кандидатуры в 2030 году.