Putin Emphasizes English Amid Family's Mandarin Proficiency

Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that young members of his family, including his grandchildren, are fluent in Mandarin, while emphasizing the continued importance of the English language during a visit to a school in Kyzyl, Tuva. He stated that this rise in Mandarin's popularity is linked to increasing economic, political, and cultural ties between Russia and China. Despite the growing interest in Mandarin, Putin encouraged students to value English, calling it a significant language for uniting knowledge and culture. The 2022 census indicates that Russian, English, Tatar, German, and Chechen are among the most spoken languages in Russia, with Mandarin gaining traction as a foreign language. Putin's comments come amidst a strengthened partnership between Russia and China, marked by recent pledges of cooperation against perceived U.S. hegemony. This partnership has been described as a 'no limits' alliance, initiated prior to Russia's military actions in Ukraine.