'No comment' after Schröder named by Putin for Ukraine talks
dw.com • • world
Key Points:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed a preference for former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a potential European mediator in peace talks to end the Ukraine war, citing Schröder's close ties to Moscow and personal friendship with Putin.
- Schröder's office declined to comment on Putin's suggestion, while anonymous German government officials dismissed the proposal as "not credible," emphasizing that Russia has not changed its conditions for ending the conflict.
- Schröder has faced controversy over his pro-Russia stance, defending Russia's actions in Ukraine and advocating for the resumption of Russian energy imports to Germany despite the ongoing war.
- The suggestion comes amid a three-day ceasefire brokered by the US, with the EU preparing for possible direct negotiations with both Ukraine and Russia, though some SPD politicians oppose Schröder's role due to his Kremlin ties, while others are more open to the idea.
