Schröder Joins Putin for Moscow Birthday Celebration

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder joined Russian President Vladimir Putin at his home in Moscow for Putin’s 74th birthday, according to the Kremlin, which published a photo of the two men together. Schröder was in Moscow in connection with his role on the supervisory board of the Russian operator of the Globus supermarket chain. His business ties and longstanding friendship with Putin have drawn criticism in Germany, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin has suggested Schröder could help mediate peace talks, but European officials have rejected the idea of him representing Europe.