Germany Rejects Putin's Proposal to Use Schröder as Ukraine Peace Mediator

Germany's Europe Minister Gunther Krichbaum firmly rejected Russian President Putin's suggestion that former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder could serve as Moscow's preferred mediator in future European security talks. Krichbaum said Schröder 'is, and certainly has been, heavily influenced by Mr. Putin,' rendering him unfit for any neutral role. The rejection came a day before EU foreign ministers formally dismissed the idea. The controversy underscored Schröder's toxic legacy in German politics — the former SPD chancellor left office in 2005 and became chairman of the board of Rosneft and Nord Stream 2 AG, making him Europe's most prominent defender of Russian gas interests.