Former German chancellor Schroeder meets Putin on president’s birthday
Gerhard Schroeder has been criticised and sanctioned for maintaining close ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the president's 74th birthday. The Kremlin announced that the meeting took place at Putin's residence. At 82 years old, Schroeder has faced criticism and sanctions for his continued close relationship with Putin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Putin learned of Schroeder's visit via media reports and invited him to the meeting. The two men were photographed shaking hands, with the images released by the Kremlin. Schroeder recently joined the supervisory board of Russian supermarket chain Hyperglobus, previously owned by German company Globus. Tensions between Germany and Russia have been heightened due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, leading to Schroeder losing his former German government privileges.
Schroeder previously served on the board of Russian energy company Gazprom and was suggested by Putin as a potential mediator in the Ukraine conflict, an idea that was rejected by European nations.
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