Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The former chancellor has been criticised for lobbying on the Kremlins behalf as well as working for Russian state-owned companies.
Berlin firmly rejected a new diplomatic pitch from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, Reuters reported.
The Kremlin leader suggested a highly controversial figure to coordinate potential peace talks between Moscow and the European Union.
He specifically named former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder for the role. Current officials quickly shot the idea down.
The sudden proposal followed recent public comments from European Council President António Costa. He had noted a “potential” for the European Union to discuss the future of regional security directly with Russia. Putin seized on those remarks to push his preferred candidate forward.
Why is Schröder controversial?
Schröder carries deep political baggage in his home country. After leaving office in 2005, the former politician immediately took a lucrative job running a controversial Russian gas pipeline project. The move shocked many international observers.
That career change drew heavy domestic criticism. German citizens widely condemned his remarkably close personal relationship with the Russian president. Because of that lengthy history, Western leaders view this latest mediation offer as a major trap.
An anonymous German official told Reuters that Putin is simply floating bogus ideas to create division within allied ranks. This familiar tactic aims to split the united front. The official also stressed that the Kremlin has not actually altered any of its core demands regarding the conflict.
Testing the waters
Berlin wants to see concrete actions on the battlefield before entertaining any grand diplomatic summits. The unnamed official told Reuters that extending the current three-day ceasefire would serve as a true test of Russian intentions. Words alone will not change current policy.
Without those verifiable steps, the diplomatic door remains shut.
The European Union has also dismissed Schröder as a possible negotiator. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas told reporters that “if we give Russia the right to appoint a negotiator on our behalf, that would not be very wise”, POLITICO reported.
According to the Kyiv Independent, EU officials are meeting informally in Cyprus on May 27–28 to discuss the matter and possible demands for Moscow in potential peace negotiations.
Sources: Reuters, POLITICO, Kyiv Independent
