FILES-RUSSIA-GERMANY-UKRAINE-CONFLICT-DIPLOMACY
(FILES) Picture taken on October 7, 2005 shows then German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (L) shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) during their meeting in St Petersburg, Russia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on May 11, 2026 pushed back on Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for ex-German leader Gerhard Schroeder to mediate with Europe on the war in Ukraine. "If we give the right to Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf, you know, that would not be very wise," Kallas told reporters ahead of foreign ministers' talks in Brussels. "Gerhard Schroeder has been a high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies. So it's clear why Putin wants him to be the person so that actually, you know, he would be sitting on both sides of the table," she said. Asked on Saturday, May 9, 2026 whom he would like to help restart talks with Europe, Putin said he would "personally" prefer Schroeder, who led Germany from 1998 to 2005. (Photo by TATYANA MAKEYEVA / AFP)
foto Tatyana Makeyeva
FotoID: HN:20260511696138
