I guess I misused the phrase “back channel”; I didn’t meant POTUS and Putin were communicating indirectly. Trump likes regular phones. Putin doesn’t speak English, IIRC. Didn’t Melania act as translator for them before? Putin must know another language that Melania knows.
Don't bet on that. When Yuri Andropov was running the KGB, he insisted that all his key people be fluent in English.
His English is much better than he usually let's on. Some have said that he has dismissed his interpreter on occasion.
Putin speaks English. He still prefers to use an interpreter lest he miss nuances.
I guess I misused the phrase “back channel”; I didn’t meant POTUS and Putin were communicating indirectly. Trump likes regular phones. Putin doesn’t speak English, IIRC. Didn’t Melania act as translator for them before? Putin must know another language that Melania knows.
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Yes, German. Putin was stationed for a long time in East Germany and is fluent in that language. He also understands the West better than many of the Russian leaders I think, because of that.
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Putin speaks perfect English.
Putin speaks English.