That August, as Russian-backed separatists lost ground in eastern Ukraine, Mr. Putin stationed troops along the border, warning they might be necessary to "protect" ethnic Russian civilians in Ukraine who he said were under attack.
在那年8月，随着受俄罗斯支持的分离主义者在东乌克兰节节败退，普京先生沿边境驻扎军队，警告称他们可能有必要“保护”在乌克兰的俄罗斯族平民，他说那些平民正在被袭击。