Putin meets Schröder at Kremlin amid mediation speculation

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder at the Kremlin, as confirmed by Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy advisor. Ushakov described the private discussion as "good" but provided no further details on its content.

German media have speculated that the meeting could be linked to Putin's recent proposal for Schröder to act as a mediator in peace talks between Russia and the European Union. However, this suggestion has not been well-received by Kyiv, Brussels, or EU member states.

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Yes, they met. It was a good conversation.

Putin reiterated his proposal during a meeting with international news agency journalists in St. Petersburg. He stated that only neutral, trustworthy individuals could serve as mediators between the EU and Russia. He also expressed surprise at the contentious debate in Germany surrounding his suggestion of Schröder as a potential intermediary, according to the German news agency DPA.

Putin clarified that Schröder's potential role is not based on personal friendship but on his status as a statesman who advocates for Germany's interests. However, the prospect of EU member states entrusting mediation to someone not currently holding government office appears unlikely. EU foreign affairs commissioner Kaja Kallas has warned against further discussions, calling it a "trap" set by Russia. Other potential mediators mentioned by commentators include former Chancellor Angela Merkel, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and former ECB President Mario Draghi.

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This is a trap that Russia wants to draw us into.