Kremlin welcomes offer

Putin friend Schröder wants to contribute to the end of the war

Schröder congratulates Putin on his inauguration as president in 2018, with Dmitry Medvedev clapping next to him and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in uniform in the background.(Bild: APA/AFP/SPUTNIK/Alexey DRUZHININ)

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) describes the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine as a "fatal mistake", but nevertheless maintains his friendship with ruler Vladimir Putin. He can imagine that this could contribute to ending the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin welcomed Schröder's offer of help. 

"We have worked together sensibly for many years. Perhaps this can still help to find a negotiated solution, I don't see any other way," said the former SPD politician and German Chancellor (1998-2005) in an interview with the German Press Agency.

Schröder, who also met with Putin in Moscow after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, advocates a new attempt at mediation at government level. "France and Germany should take the initiative," he said.

Kremlin gratefully picks up the ball
The former chancellor sees the ball as being in the West's court rather than that of the aggressor, Russia. So it is no wonder that the regime in Moscow is grateful for such statements. Good, constructive relations on a personal level, such as those between Putin and Schröder, could help to solve problems, explained Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday.

Putin and Schröder had repeatedly demonstrated this at the time when the 79-year-old was in office. "This helped to resolve the most difficult issues and ensure the gradual evolution of bilateral developments," said Peskov, according to Russian news agencies.

Moscow: Scholz massively involved in war
The Kremlin spokesman made it clear that Moscow sees no will on the part of the current political actors to end the conflict. Germany is massively involved in the war under Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). The dominant approach in Europe is "to provoke Ukraine into fighting to the last Ukrainian". Although Moscow is observing the different points of view in Europe, it does not see any change in the situation.

However, following a telephone conversation between Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Kremlin stated that "Russia has always been open to serious and objective talks on a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict". There are doubts in the West that Putin is serious about his claimed willingness to negotiate.

"Negotiations based on realities"
The Russian president last said in a TV interview in mid-March that he was prepared to negotiate, but not on the basis of "wishes", but on the basis of "realities that have come about, as they say, on the ground."

In plain language: Putin does not want to negotiate about the illegally occupied and annexed Ukrainian territories. Especially as Russia has recently achieved successes on the battlefield, a new wave of mobilization promises fresh soldiers and the Ukrainian defenders are short of ammunition. Ukraine is demanding more weapons from the West in order to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. Kiev categorically rejects negotiations with Putin.