Shadowing Practice: UK waters down new Russian oil sanctions as fuel prices rise | BBC News - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Now Russia and China are renewing plans to build a major new gas pipeline during President Putin's visit to Beijing.
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Now Russia and China are renewing plans to build a major new gas pipeline during President Putin's visit to Beijing.
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The Kremlin says Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached a basic agreement on the project,
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including on the route and construction plans,
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though officials say there is still no clear timeline.
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The move comes as Moscow grows increasingly reliant on China to buy its gas
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and help prop up Russia's economy during the war in Ukraine.
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Meanwhile, the UK government is facing criticism over its decision to loosen strict sanctions on Russian oil refined into diesel
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and jet fuel in third countries as prices rise.
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Officials say the move is a necessary response to the impact of the Iran war on global energy supplies.
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Well, we can speak now to Dr. Aura Sabadis,
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an energy expert for the Independent Commodity Intelligence Services.
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Good to see you this morning.
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Look, let's start with with this deal that we've had or this understanding that's been reached between Russia and China?
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Would this have happened without the conflict in Iran?
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Is that the sort of impetus that's changing long-term decisions here?
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Hello and good morning and good afternoon to your listeners.
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To be honest, I was expecting a lot more enthusiasm about this project,
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but when I read the statement,
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it felt a bit like a damn squib because I was expecting the stars to align on this long delayed project,
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the power of Siberia too,
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which is a project that has been discussed for at least 20 years,
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and which aimed to bring around 50 billion cubic meters of gas from the Arctic region of Russia down to China.
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As you correctly said, A discussion was held last year and a memorandum was agreed for the potential construction of this pipeline,
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but key issues were not agreed on at the time.
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And these issues related to pricing and to volumes.
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And personally, I was expecting to see more details related to these two.
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First of all, the Russians were expecting to get prices closer to the sort of prices
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that they were getting from European markets.
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And on the other hand,
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the Chinese were expecting prices closer to the Chinese market.
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But this is not, this hasn't happened.
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At least we haven't heard anything yet.
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So in other words, it sounds like sort of both sides playing hardball here.
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Is that why you think there's this caution?
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It's very difficult to say because both sides are in a position now to negotiate
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and to reach some compromise for a couple of reasons.
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China had depended on Qatar for about a third of its LNG imports.
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Now, as we know, with Qatar no longer exporting,
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that portion of LNG has gone.
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And we were expecting to see some movement potentially on this project to allow China to import more gas from elsewhere.
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Russia, on the other hand,
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is in an even deeper trouble because Russia has lost its gas market in Europe.
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And it's now facing the loss of a big market.
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So it was expecting to replace that with China, but it hasn't happened.
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So I expect here a couple of issues might have happened or a couple of reasons.
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Number one, either both sides expect a fast resolution to the Hormuz crisis,
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which means that at some point later this year,
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the situation will start to get back to normal,
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although that will happen relatively shortly.
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Secondly, they were not prepared to reach a compromise,
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even now in the current shifting geopolitical environment.
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And thirdly, and this is even more interesting,
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China may be looking to return to US LNG.
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And very interestingly, we actually saw,
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we actually seeing some LNG shipments coming from or heading from the US to China.
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And very, very briefly, if I could just interrupt,
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if I could jump in here very briefly,
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how significant is the US waiver on Russian oil exports and that UK announcement as well?
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Well, from a political point of view,
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it actually sends an awkward message,
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particularly a message related to Western coordination with regards to sanctions.
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Because let's not forget, the UK was the biggest cheerleader for Ukraine.
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It was one of the first countries to introduce sanctions against Russian coal,
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gas, LNG and oil.
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And now by refusing to close a loophole in this import of refined products made from Russian oil,
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it sends an awkward message,
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as I said, and Russia could speculate that to undermine Western credibility and unity.
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Awkward message.
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We'll leave it there.
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Dr. Ora Sabadus, energy expert for the Independent Commodity Intelligence Services,
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thank you very much for joining us.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will enhance your English speaking practice by engaging with a topical discussion on international relations and energy policies. The transcript examines the geopolitical dynamics between Russia and China in the context of energy supply, particularly focusing on oil and gas agreements. You will practice listening for context, understanding complex sentences, and articulating your thoughts on current events. This will not only improve your vocabulary but also prepare you for potential IELTS speaking practice scenarios related to global issues.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Sanctions - penalties imposed by one country on another to influence political or economic behavior.
  • Pipeline - a long pipe used to transport oil or gas.
  • Reliant - dependent on something else for support or sustenance.
  • Moscow - the capital city of Russia, often used to refer to the Russian government.
  • Negotiation - a discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.
  • Gas market - a marketplace where natural gas is bought and sold.
  • Long-term decisions - choices made with future consequences in mind.
  • Critical situation - a scenario that demands urgent attention or action.

Practice Tips

To effectively use this video for learn English with YouTube, shadow speech, and refine your pronunciation, here are some specific practices:

  • Slow Down Initially: Begin by listening to the transcript at a slower speed, which may help you catch nuanced expressions and vocabulary. Then gradually increase the speed to match the original video.
  • Repetition: Replay segments of the video multiple times. Focus on repeating phrases out loud after the speaker, which sharpens your speaking skills and builds confidence.
  • Intonation and Stress: Pay attention to how certain words are emphasized in the dialogue. Mimic these intonations to make your speech sound more natural and fluent.
  • Contextual Use: Try to use the new vocabulary in your own sentences related to discussions on international relations or energy policies. This will reinforce your understanding and improve recall.
  • Record Yourself: Consider recording your speeches as you practice. Listening to your own voice can provide insights into areas of improvement in pronunciation and fluency.

Utilizing a shadowing site or similar platform will be advantageous, but these strategies can also be used in any setting to enhance your speaking skills and understanding of the complex language found in discussions about current affairs.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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