A surprising video has resurfaced featuring Vladimir Putin speaking English—an unusual departure from his standard practice of communicating exclusively in Russian during public appearances.
While the clip is drawing attention to the Russian president’s language skills, it comes just as one of his key allies is firmly rejecting former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for peace in Ukraine.
Putin’s English Moment
Though Putin generally relies on interpreters at official events, he has occasionally demonstrated his ability to speak in English. One notable instance was during Russia’s bid to host the 2020 World Expo in Yekaterinburg, where he addressed the audience directly in English.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has acknowledged that Putin “completely understands English” and even corrects his translators from time to time.
When asked why he doesn’t use English more frequently in international settings, Putin once explained, “In Russian, thank God. I can manage in German and express myself reasonably well in English.”
Putin is also fluent in German, a skill developed during his time as a KGB officer stationed in East Germany. He’s used this fluency to deliver speeches in the language.
Still, he usually defaults to Russian, likely to avoid the risks of mistranslation during crucial diplomatic exchanges—errors that could have serious consequences on the global stage.
Medvedev Shuts Down Trump’s Peace Plan
Meanwhile, as focus shifts to Putin’s rare use of English, Dmitry Medvedev—Russia’s former president and current deputy chair of its Security Council—has dismissed any notion of peace talks suggested by Donald Trump as completely unrealistic, according to Reuters.
Medvedev harshly rejected the idea of a negotiated settlement that would require Russia to compromise. Referring to previous peace talks in Turkey, he stated that they were never intended to reach a middle ground but to ensure Russia’s complete victory.
“The Istanbul talks aren’t about compromise on anyone’s delusional terms—they’re about achieving our rapid triumph and the total annihilation of the neo-Nazi regime,” Medvedev wrote on Telegram. He cited a recent Russian memorandum to reinforce his point.
Russia’s current demands include more territorial gains in Ukraine, a declaration of Ukrainian neutrality, limits on its military capabilities, and a new round of elections in Kyiv—none of which point toward a genuine pursuit of peace.
Although some limited progress was made during a recent one-hour meeting, including an agreement on exchanging prisoners of war and the bodies of 12,000 fallen soldiers, the two sides could not reach consensus on a 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine had already accepted.
Medvedev further escalated tensions by issuing what appeared to be a threat following recent Ukrainian drone attacks: “Retribution is inevitable. Our military is advancing and will not stop.
Everything that must be destroyed will be destroyed, and those who must be eliminated will be eliminated.”
Trump, who has positioned ending the Ukraine war as a major campaign goal, now faces significant challenges.
Russia’s interpretation of “peace,” as demonstrated by its current demands and Medvedev’s rhetoric, seems to prioritize domination over diplomacy, making a negotiated settlement increasingly unlikely.
