Behind the language barrier: Putin's rare English moments
Vladimir Putin surprised the world by speaking in English, a rare occurrence. A recent conversation between the Russian president and Donald Trump, which took place through interpreters, illustrates this rarity.
Vladimir Putin is known for using interpreters during official appearances. This doesn't mean he avoids other languages if the situation requires it. As noted by Ladbible.com, Putin spoke in English when Russia bid to host Expo 2020 in Yekaterinburg.
Although Putin usually speaks Russian, he has language skills that include not only English but also German, which he learned while working in East Germany. In 2021, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin "fully understands English" and sometimes corrects his interpreters.
The Russian side points out that although Putin has the skills to speak other languages, he prefers using Russian during discussions with other leaders. The reason is simple: he feels more comfortable expressing himself in his native language, which minimizes the risk of misunderstandings, especially during essential discussions or international summits.
This extended Trump's conversation with Putin
After Donald Trump's conversation with Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian Truth portal, citing the podcast The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, reported that Putin did not speak English. The president's conversation took place through interpreters, which affected its duration. Marco Rubio confirmed this.
As Wirtualna Polska reminded us, the American president's conversation with Putin lasted over an hour. Meanwhile, the call with Volodymyr Zelensky lasted 45 minutes. Rubio pointed out that the Ukrainian leader is fluent in English, which allows for direct communication and a quicker discussion of issues important to both sides.
