Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks three languages-Russian, German and English fluently- but does not speak French.

Putin studied German at Saint Petersburg High School 281 and speaks German as a second language.

Although Putin speaks Russian most of the time, he used the English language on a daily basis while stationed in the city of Dresden in East Germany as an agent of the Soviet security services in the 1980s.

Putin speaks for himself in English when conversing with other foreign leaders on the sidelines of international summits. He practically understands English completely and sometimes even corrects the translators.

In 2013 Putin made a pitch in English for Russia to host the 2020 World Expo in Yekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth-largest city. The city lost out to Dubai but Russia is trying again, this time putting forth Moscow in 2030.

That wasn’t the only time he’s been on screen speaking in English. In 2017 director Oliver Stone broadcast a series of interviews with Putin in which the Russian leader switched between English and Russian.

Probably his most viral display of speaking, in English came in 2010 when he performed Blueberry Hill at a children’s charity fundraiser in St Petersburg.