Janukovitši isikliku tõlkija Juriy Druzhbinsky memuaaridest:

“Enne Washingtoni külastamist ja president Barack Obamaga kohtumist sai Ukraina president Viktor Janukovitch mitmeid koolitusi inglise keele põhitõdedede teemal.

Teda juhendati järgmiselt:

1) Obamale lähenedes peaksid esimese asjana ütlema.

“Kuidas läheb? “

2) Obama vastab:

“Minuga on kõik korras, aga sina? “

3) Ja nüüd on vaja öelda.

“Mina ka”.

Ja ongi kõik. Pärast seda teeme meie, tõlkijad, ülejäänu.

Ja vot mis juhtus, ja see läheb annaalidesse pikaks ajaks kirja.

Janukovitš sirutab käe välja ja ütleb üsna reipalt:

– “Kes sa oled?

(Muide, inglise keeles algajad ajavad tihti segamini “Hu” ja “Kuidas”… )

Obama on veidi šokeeritud, kuid võtab end kokku ja vastab oma kaubamärgi Harvardi huumoriga:

– “Ma olen Michelle’i abikaasa!

No siin tegi Janukovitš seda, mida talle õpetati:

– Mina ka!

From the memoirs of Yanukovych’s personal translator, Yuriy Druzhbinsky:

“Before visiting Washington and meeting with President Barack Obama, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych received several training sessions on the basics of English.

He was instructed as follows:

1) When you approach Obama, the first thing you should say is.

“How are you?”

2) Obama will answer:

“I am fine, and you?”

3) And now you need to say.

“Me too”.

And that’s it. After that, we, the translators, will do the rest.

And here’s what happened, and it will be written down in the annals for a long time.

Yanukovych stretches out his hand and says quite briskly:

– “Who are you?

(By the way, beginners in English often confuse “Hu” and “How”…)

Obama is a bit shocked, but pulls himself together and answers with his trademark Harvard humor:

– “I’m Michelle’s husband!

Well, here Yanukovych did what he was taught:

– Me too!