天然氣輸送管道計畫
US President Donald Trump launched a sharp public attack on Germany, asserting a pipeline project has made Germany “totally controlled” by and “captive to Russia” as Western leaders gathered in Brussels for a NATO summit.
西方領袖日前在布魯塞爾聚首，召開北約高峰會，美國總統川普抨擊，天然氣輸送管道計畫使得德國「完全被俄國控制」並成為「俄國的俘虜」。
launch an attack on~對…發動攻擊assert(v.)主張、斷言、肯定地說、一口咬定=declareNATO北大西洋公約組織=The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Trump told NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg during a pre-summit meeting that Germany was wrong to support a new US$11-billion Baltic Sea pipeline to import Russian gas.
峰會前川普告訴北約秘書長史托騰伯格，德國不應該支持價值110億美元跨越波羅的海的天然氣運輸計劃，進口俄國天然氣。
the Baltic Sea 波羅的海pipeline(n.)管道;管線import(v.)進口
“We’re supposed to protect you against Russia, but they’re paying billions of dollars to Russia and I think that’s very inappropriate,” Trump said during a breakfast with Stoltenberg, his first event since arriving in Brussels.
川普在與史托騰伯格的早餐會上說：「我們理應保護你們對抗俄國，但他們卻付給俄國幾十億美元，我覺得這非常不恰當。」這是他抵達布魯塞爾後的第一場活動。
be supposed to RV應該inappropriate(adj.)不恰當的appropriate(adj.)恰當的;適當的
Meanwhile, in a pointed response to Trump, Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters on arrival at a NATO summit in Brussels on Wednesday: “I have experienced myself how a part of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union.”
同時，德國總理梅克爾一抵達布魯塞爾峰會現場就尖銳地回擊川普，表示她自己就曾在蘇聯控制下的東德長大。
in response to~回應;回覆pointed(adj.)尖銳的;直接了當的=sharp=cuttingon N or V-ing 一…就…
Merkel said, “I am very happy that today we are united in freedom, the Federal Republic of Germany. Because of that, we can say that we can make our independent policies and make independent decisions.”
梅克爾說：「我很高興德國能在自由之下統一，成為德意志聯邦共和國，因為如此，我們能決定自己的政策，做出自己的決定。」
Trump appeared to be referring to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would bring gas from Russia to Germany’s northeastern Baltic coast, doubling the amount of gas Russia can send directly to Germany.
川普所指的應該是「北溪２號」天然氣輸送管道計畫，將從俄國運送天然氣到德國東北部臨波羅的海區域，並使俄國直接輸往德國的天然氣增加一倍。
appear to RV=seem to RV 似乎refer to~所指的是…
Merkel has given political backing to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to import more gas, despite criticism from other EU members, who warn it could give Moscow greater leverage over Western Europe.
梅克爾為「北溪２號」天然氣輸送管道計畫作政治背書，儘管面臨其他歐盟成員的批評，警告該計劃會使莫斯科對西歐更有影響力，
backing(n.)支持;資助despite(prep.)儘管;即使=in spite of~=even with~leverage(n.)槓桿作用、影響力influence(n.)影響力bargaining chips談判籌碼negotiating table談判桌
However, Merkel insists the project is a private commercial venture and is not funded by German taxpayers.
但梅克爾堅持該計劃是私人商業投資，並不是由德國納稅人買單。
insist(v.)堅持venture(n.)冒險事業、投機活動、企業fund(n.)資金(v.)由…提供資金