The suggestion by Russian President Vladimir Putin to appoint former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a mediator in peace talks concerning the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was met with strong international rejection.
Oleksiy Makeyev, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, quickly repudiated the idea. Speaking to the “Spiegel”, Makeyev stressed the necessity of alliances over mediation, stating, “We need allies, not mediators”. He asserted that Schröder, who previously represented Russian interests in Germany, lacks both the moral and political standing required to act as a mediator today. Makeyev further criticized the former chancellor’s involvement, dryly adding that one hopes Schröder does not accidentally find himself seated at the wrong table.
Opposition leaders echoed these sentiments. Omid Nouripour, the Green Party’s Deputy President of the Bundestag, also rejected Schröder’s candidacy. Nouripour dismissed Putin’s suggestion as “a poor joke” while simultaneously criticizing the SPD for appearing too eager to support it, suggesting this haste reveals that the Social Democrats have yet to shed their old ties to Moscow.
According to Nouripour, the deep-seated conflict does not require a mediator sourced from Germany; rather, it demands a strengthening of the unified European European position. He added that if the EU were to select a German figure for a mediation role, it would indeed be a welcome development.
The initial proposal surfaced after the Russian President brought up the well-connected former Chancellor Schröder as a potential mediator following a meeting with the former politician. Despite the diplomatic pushback, spokespeople from the SPD initially signaled an openness to accepting the premise.
