Putin breaks norm by speaking English, extends trump talks
Vladimir Putin surprised the world by speaking in English, a rarity for the Russian president. Evidence of this is the recent conversation between Putin and Donald Trump, which occurred through interpreters.
Putin is known for using interpreters during official appearances, although this doesn't mean he avoids other languages when necessary. As noted by ladbible.com, Putin spoke in English during Russia's bid to host Expo 2020 in Yekaterinburg.
While Putin typically communicates in Russian, he is also proficient in English and German. His German language skills are a result of his time working in East Germany. In 2021, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin "fully understands English" and sometimes corrects his interpreters.
Despite his ability to speak in other languages, Putin prefers using Russian when conversing with other leaders. The reason for this preference is straightforward: he feels more comfortable expressing himself in his native language, which reduces the risk of misunderstandings during important discussions or international summits.
This extended Trump's conversation with Putin
Following 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 conversation between the presidents occurred through interpreters, which contributed to its length, as confirmed by Marco Rubio.
As reported by Wirtualna Polska, the American president's conversation with Putin lasted over an hour. In contrast, the call with Volodymyr Zelensky lasted 45 minutes. Rubio noted that the Ukrainian leader is fluent in English, which allows for direct communication and a more rapid discussion of issues important to both sides.