my russian is so good once (do i need to say drunken?) russian thought i was one also. he was surprised that i am "so drunk my rus is worse then his".
we became good friends ... until he sobered up and forgot he ever talked to me.
why would be impossible to learn it? live with bears and you will roar soon

my first language is one of the slavic also and proly even harder to learn then rus but we are talking about being able to communicate on basic lvl not write poems or smthing.
example translated from skype conv while playing another game:
Person A:"what are you drinking? vodka? beer? vine?
Person B: "yes"
Person A:"no no no .... what are you drinking now? um ... as we speak ...."
Person B:"yes ... well no .... i had only 1 bottle of vine. listen i will trade my optics for your assault rifle."
Person A:"what? %^*#" (curses in native language, also slavic, smthing about mother)
Person C:"he means sniper"
Person B:"that was something about my mother? o0"
Person A:":D no man no .... um take the AK and take the ...... (to person C) armor? tell him i wont need no armor if i go sniper. i want the pistol tho"
Person C:"and ill take your +1 frags for my translating services kekekeke"
(Person B loughs)
Person A:":D he understood that"
IRL is even easier. you can jump around, flail with your hands, point toward your mouth (hungry), beat on your chest and show universal peace sign (empty palms up: i have no weapon, i am harmless) plus few words you nail is good enough. when you get back home you can easily convince everyone that you had no problem and that your rus is perfect.
problem is cyriclics for you guys, but if you write a few rus words using translit other side will usually soften up and and engage in cov in english/german/french.
being protective of own language is not something invented by sole nation. i had misfortune of being around many germans, french, italians or whatever who simply refused to speak eng. not that they could not understand me

i witnessed an argument "i dont need to know any other languages. i speak eng"'
anyway, its a bit dumb to label people just taking nationality into account. dont need to elaborate on this, if you agree then you do agree. on the other hand if you dont you ..... wont whatever i say.
just dont get involved into drinking contest coz youll lose. i dont care if you from, idk, sponge nation

btw, sry for any typos. its just that i am 2 lazy to check for those unless i am payed for it in hard currency, and i am not talking about crickets, nails or fish