Gerhard Schröder talks to Vladimir Putin in Moscow. In this country there seems to have been no coordination of the trip. But for Schröder it could be worth it.
Berlin/Moscow – It has been raging for over two weeks Ukraine war* in Eastern Europe, tanks fire at the behest of Wladimir Putin* Ukrainian cities and over a million people have fled the fighting. Negotiations have so far been unsuccessful. The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine recently met in Turkey to discuss a possible way out of the war in Ukraine. After an hour and a half it was clear: Lavrov* and Kuleba found no common denominator and parted again without result.
Gerhard Schröder meets Vladimir Putin in Moscow – probably negotiations about the Ukraine war
The diplomatic efforts of the past few days and weeks seem to have come to nothing. Too isolated is Vladimir Putin, who has apparently been in the US since the outbreak of war Ukraine* should no longer stay in the Kremlin. Of the European heads of government, only French President Emmanuel Macron has had more intensive contact with Moscow. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) are trying to strengthen the sense of unity on the European continent. In the midst of the difficult situation of the Ukraine war*, a former chancellor traveled to Moscow. This could open up the possibility of bringing about a turnaround in the crisis in Eastern Europe.
Gerhard Schröder (SPD), former chancellor and lobbyist for Russian companies for years*, surprised not only his own party comrades with his trip to Moscow on Thursday. “Gas-Gerd”, as Schröder is also often called in this country, had in recent weeks because of his close relationships Russia* to contend with a lot of criticism. In the room were party exclusion procedures, the withdrawal of honorary titles and a general distrust of his person. The Politico news portal and the Bild newspaper first reported on his attempted talks in Moscow with Vladimir Putin, who also threatened to use nuclear weapons* in the Ukraine war.
Schröder meets Putin: Both politicians maintain close contact – sharp criticism of Schröder’s relations with Russia
Schröder has always been considered a confidante of Putin. While he was still active in politics, the men maintained an intensive exchange, which intensified after Schröder retired from federal politics. The former Chancellor of Germany now holds several board positions at Russian gas companies – including Nord Stream 2. The proximity to the Kremlin and Russian gas have been viewed increasingly critically in recent weeks. It is quite possible that Schröder’s current engagement in war in Ukraine* should smooth the waves again. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to criticize the Nato*.
The fact that he is still traveling to Moscow to negotiate with Vladimir Putin about the Ukraine war* probably happened without consultation with the federal government. Chancellor Scholz (SPD) did not want to comment on reports on Schröder’s actions on Thursday evening. previously had Scholz, however, Schröder for his stubbornness* criticized. At least one conversation between Schröder and Putin is said to have taken place in the meantime, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov is also unwilling to confirm reports about it. On Friday in Moscow, he answered questions from journalists: “I have no information about Schröder. I can’t tell you anything.”
Schröder in Moscow: Former chancellor and SPD politician seems to be conducting negotiations in the war in Ukraine
In the Ukraine, too, people were surprised at Schröder’s trip to Moscow. As Politico reports, however, Schröder’s attempt at mediation was engineered by a Kiev politician who last week sought contact through the Swiss media company Ringier, for which Schröder works as a consultant. On Thursday evening, on the other hand, SPD party leader Lars Klingbeil was cautiously positive on the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner”. “Anything that helps to end this terrible war is welcome,” he said.
It is therefore still unclear what role Schröder will play in the Ukraine conflict. Likewise, the content of his mission is completely opaque. What is certain, however, is that Gerhard Schröder is one of the few people in Europe who can even get through to Vladimir Putin. As the Tagesspiegel wrote in an article, the Ukrainian ambassador, Andriy Melnyk, also knew nothing about Schröder’s mediation in the Ukraine war. A week ago, however, he told the Bild newspaper that Schröder was one of the few in Germany who still had a direct line Putin* have.
Schröder-Kim in Moscow: Gerhard Schröder’s wife accompanies her husband to Russia
Gerhard Schröder’s mediation in the Ukraine war is overshadowed by further fighting in the Ukraine. Whether the former chancellor will succeed in calming the war in Ukraine cannot yet be predicted. However, the SPD politician continues to meet with little approval in his home country. While he was in Moscow with his wife Soyeon Schröder-Kim, the German Football Association took action: Gerhard Schröder was revoked his honorary membership on Friday without a dissenting vote.
The SPD had also recently issued an ultimatum to Schröder resigning his mandate. How Gerhard Schröder is viewed in Germany could very much depend on the success of his talks with Vladimir Putin. Should the former chancellor distinguish himself in the negotiations with Moscow and achieve a peaceful outcome in the Ukraine war, through which already numerous refugees* left the country within reach, he would probably be greeted with a great wave of sympathy. *kreiszeitung.de and fr.de are offers from IPPEN.MEDIA.
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