EU rejects Putin call for Gerhard Schröder role in Ukraine peace talks
The Guardian • • world
Key Points:
- The EU has rejected Vladimir Putin’s proposal to appoint former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a mediator in peace talks over the Ukraine war, citing Schröder’s close ties to Russia and lack of impartiality.
- Schröder, who held senior roles in Russian energy firms and has not condemned Russia’s invasion, is seen by EU officials as biased and unsuitable to represent Europe in negotiations.
- Putin hinted the conflict might be nearing an end but maintains demands for Ukraine to withdraw from the Donbas region before talks, a condition Ukraine firmly rejects.
- Analysts and EU officials remain skeptical of Putin’s peace overtures, viewing them as potential tactics to delay or manipulate negotiations amid ongoing heavy fighting and casualties.
- European leaders emphasize that any peace discussions must include Ukraine directly, and there is little support for Schröder’s involvement given his pro-Kremlin stance and strained relations with mainstream European opinion.