By Tomas Kassahun
Blavity
https://blavity.com/
While there have been speculations for many years about whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin can speak English, the Russian leader showed on Friday that he can indeed speak English. Putin expressed parts of his speech in English on Friday as he stood alongside Donald Trump for their summit in Alaska.
What did Putin say in English at the Alaska summit?
Although much of his speech was translated through an interpreter, Putin closed his remarks with a few words in English.
“And next time in Moscow,” Putin concluded his speech as he subtly invited Trump to join him in Russia for their next meeting. He also showed his gratitude to Trump in English, saying, “Thank you so much.”
Although Putin expressed some of his thoughts in English, he also appeared to be confused a few times. When a reporter asked Putin if he would “stop killing civilians,” the controversial leader gestured to his ear and showed a puzzled look on his face.
The Russian government said Putin understands English ‘very well’
According to CNN, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told world leaders multiple times that Putin understands English very well. When Trump spoke to the Russian leader on the phone in May, Peskov said Putin understood the conversation in English before the translator relayed the information to him.
Per CNN, the Kremlin also said in 2017 that Putin sometimes corrects his interpreters. According to the Russian newspaper Izvestia, Putin “most often speaks English” when he’s on the go.
“But when negotiations are conducted and when an official meeting is taking place, of course, he communicates through interpreters,” Peskov said.
Peskov also noted that Putin understands the challenge of translating: “I myself have been translating at the highest level for a long time, so I know what kind of stress it is,” he said.
