An ‘old friend,’ a stove, and a samovar. The Kremlin shares a portrait of Putin’s birthday with former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his birthday with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, his “old friend,” the Kremlin press office said on the evening of October 8.
Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his birthday on October 8 with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, whom the Kremlin described as an "old friend." Schröder arrived in Moscow on October 7, according to media reports. The two met at the president's residence, where Putin shared his birthday with Schröder, according to a Kremlin press statement.
The press office released a photograph of the two together. Schröder met with employees of the Globus hypermarket chain, which he joined to the supervisory board in early October. Following his visit to Globus, Schröder engaged in private discussions with employees. Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Schröder has visited Moscow and met with Putin multiple times.
In May 2026, Putin referred to Schröder as his "preferred" mediator for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
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