The Kremlin said that they have a recording of the conversation between Putin and Schroeder in case someone “decides to play” with its content.
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Ex-Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schroeder, who is criticized for his closeness to the Kremlin and activities in Russian state concerns, confirmed that he met with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin again at the end of July. He stated that Putin would like to “find a negotiated solution to the conflict with Ukraine and the West,” according to DW.
Schroeder also emphasized that he considers the conclusion of the “grain agreement” between the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN to be the first success in the process of “peaceful settlement”. .
At the same time, the former chancellor emphasized the special responsibility that Berlin bears together with Paris, noting that currently their actions are insufficient to end the war.
Schroeder also spoke positively about the steps taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In addition to the grain agreement, the ex-chancellor also recalled the negotiations in Turkey by the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in March.
According to Schroeder, the main question is whether there is a desire to end the war. In his opinion, there should be concessions from both sides.
“And it would be a big mistake to belittle Ukraine's possible concessions as “peace dictated by Russia,''” Schroeder said.
Schroeder, who is also called a long-time friend of the head of the Kremlin in the media, called the Russian invasion of Ukraine “a mistake by the Russian government”, but again refused to break his personal relationship with Putin.
Also, according to Schroeder, Angela Merkel and Frank -Walter Steinmeier made a “wise decision” at the NATO summit in 2008 to refuse Ukraine's entry into the Alliance.
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin personally met with Schroeder in Moscow. According to Peskov, Schroeder expressed concern about the energy crisis unfolding in Europe. The Kremlin also reported that the ex-chancellorGermany showed no desire to become a mediator in solving the situation in Ukraine or the gas problem.
In addition, Peskov stated that Schroeder asked Putin at the meeting whether it was possible to use Nord Stream 2 to supply gas to Europe in the current situation.
“The Kremlin has a recording of the conversation between Putin and Schröder in case someone “decides to play” with its content,” the Kremlin spokesman said.
Read also: German Ex-Chancellor Schröder flies to Moscow on vacation
In early March, a few days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Schroeder came to Moscow and talked with the head of the Kremlin about the war. After that, the German ex-chancellor announced that the Russian Federation was interested in a negotiated solution.
Since the beginning of the war, criticism of Schröder has sharply intensified in Germany. In particular, as a sign of protest against his position, several of his employees resigned, and in May the ruling coalition deprived Schröder of his office in the Bundestag, which was intended for him for life and financed from the state budget.
Also, in the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the ex-chancellor the membership withdrawal procedure is underway. In the party, even his former closest allies distanced themselves from Schröder, including the Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
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On Germany's energy dependence on the Russian Federation, the role of Chancellors Angela Merkel and Gerhard Schröder in its creation, and also read about Berlin's latest historical responsibility in the article by Vladimir Kim “Putin humiliated Merkel and “saddled” Schroeder: what should Germany do now”.
