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.
MOSCOW: Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder visited Vladimir Putin at his residence on the Russian leader's 74th birthday, according to the Kremlin. Schroeder, now 82, has faced criticism and sanctions for his ongoing close ties with Putin since the onset of the Ukraine conflict. The meeting was reported by the Kremlin on Telegram, with photos of the two men shaking hands subsequently released.
Wednesday marked Putin's 74th birthday. Last week, it was reported that Schroeder had been appointed to the supervisory board of Russian supermarket giant Hyperglobus, previously owned by German firm Globus. Schroeder's connections to Putin have raised concerns in Germany, given the strained relations between the two nations due to the Ukraine issue.
As former German head of government from 1998 to 2005, Schroeder's privileges have been revoked. Prior to Hyperglobus, Schroeder served on the board of Russian energy behemoth Gazprom. In May, Putin proposed Schroeder as a potential mediator in the Ukraine conflict, a suggestion that was swiftly rejected by European nations.
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