Germany has rejected Putin’s proposal to appoint Schröder as a negotiator between the EU and Russia
10 May 20:07
Germany has rejected Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s proposal to appoint former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as the EU’s representative in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Neither the governing coalition nor the opposition considers the former chancellor, known for his long-standing friendship with Putin, to be a suitable negotiator, writes "Komersant Ukrainian", citing DW.
A source close to the federal government noted that Putin’s statement “fits into a series of fictitious proposals” and is part of Russia’s well-known hybrid strategy. “However, Germany and Europe will not allow this to sow division,” officials in Berlin emphasized.
The negotiation option proposed by Putin is not credible, as Moscow has not changed its conditions for ending the war it started, the report continues. At the same time, extending the ceasefire, previously announced to last until May 11, could serve as the first test of the seriousness of Putin’s intentions.
Schröder’s party called Putin’s proposal a “transparent maneuver”
Meanwhile, within Germany’s Social Democratic Party, which is part of the ruling coalition, opinions on Gerhard Schröder’s potential mediation are divided. Michael Roth, former chair of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, called Putin’s proposal a “transparent maneuver.” “Anyone who seriously seeks peace starts with a ceasefire,” he said in an interview with the Tagesspiegel. Roth emphasized that a mediator in potential negotiations between Ukraine and Russia “cannot simply be a friend of Putin’s”—it is necessary for Ukraine to approve him.
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In turn, SPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner called for Putin’s proposal to be considered.
“I welcome any initiative that can bring an end to the war,” he said in an interview with Der Spiegel. He noted that Europe has not yet been involved in the negotiation process and has not had the opportunity to put forward its own proposals. “If this can be achieved with the help of someone like Schröder, it would be foolish to turn down such an opportunity,” he added.
The opposition party Alliance ’90/The Greens firmly rejected the Russian president’s initiative.
“Putin bears responsibility for the illegal war in Ukraine,” said parliamentary group co-chair Britta Hasselmann. She emphasized that Putin is the aggressor and could “immediately end the war.” His proposal regarding Schröder is “absurd and must be firmly rejected,” Hasselmann added.
Putin proposed appointing Schröder as the EU’s negotiator
The day before, at a press conference with Kremlin-accredited journalists, the Russian dictator called Schröder the “preferred” candidate from the European Union for negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. This was his response to a question about whether, in Putin’s opinion, there are politicians in Western Europe with whom he could engage in dialogue.
Following this, Putin stated that Russia is open to dialogue, but Europe must choose a negotiator who has not spoken disparagingly about the country. Russia, according to Putin, has “always” spoken respectfully to the EU.
Meanwhile, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are not currently taking place officially. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed this in mid-April.
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