European foreign ministers opposed the idea of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder representing European countries in peace talks. Russian President Vladimir Putin made the proposal in May, at a time when Schröder was facing criticism in Germany over his ties to Putin and Russian companies.
Schröder was with the Russian president at Putin’s Moscow home for the birthday celebration. Putin invited the former German chancellor to his home after learning from morning news reports that Schröder was in Moscow.
Schröder’s visit to Moscow
Schröder, who served as Germany’s chancellor from 1998 to 2005, came to Moscow for business involving the Globus company. Schröder recently joined the supervisory board of the Russian supermarket chain Hyperglobus. On Wednesday, he visited one of the chain’s Moscow stores and was greeted with applause by employees.

Photographs taken at home showed Putin and Schröder smiling and shaking hands. The images also featured an old-fashioned stove and a Russian samovar used to boil water for tea.
Relations with Putin under scrutiny
Schröder’s ongoing ties to Russian companies and Putin have drawn criticism, particularly in Germany. Those ties continued after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the Western sanctions that followed.

In May, Putin said Schröder could represent European countries in peace talks aimed at ending the conflict. European foreign ministers did not accept the idea of Schröder taking on such a role.