The former federal chancellor has been heavily criticized in Germany for maintaining his contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he describes as his personal friend.
Gerhard Schröder has made it clear that he will continue his contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“I am not going to give up the opportunities presented to me for talks with President Putin,” the former Social Democrats (SPD) chancellor told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.
Mr Schroeder has been heavily criticized in Germany for maintaining contacts with Mr Putin, whom he describes as a personal friend, despite the outbreak of war on February 24, and for failing to condemn the Russian military invasion.
Recently, the former federal chancellor (1998-2005) resigned from his position on the board of directors of Rosneft and rejected the possibility of taking a position on the board of Gazprom. He held positions in Russian energy companies after leaving the chancellorship.
Asked about the dialogue on arms deliveries – especially heavy weapons – from Germany to Ukraine, Mr Schroeder asked “why are we focusing on arms deliveries?”
He explained that he does not believe there is a military solution to the conflict in Ukraine. This war “can only end with diplomatic negotiations. The fate of the military and the civilian population in Ukraine can only improve if a diplomatic solution is found.”
In March, Mr Schroeder traveled to Moscow and met with the Russian president. “From what I understood in my discussion with him, he is interested in finding a negotiated solution,” the former chancellor told FAS. “The question of what form this solution could take can only be clarified through negotiation,” he added.
Furthermore, the social democratic politician expressed the opinion that the failure of the negotiations conducted so far is mainly due to the Ukrainian side.
Mr Schröder also commented on the fact that members of his party are distancing themselves from him, notably SPD leader Lars Klingbeil.
Asked about Mr Klingbeil’s statement that his friendship with Mr Schroeder was a thing of the past, the former chancellor said: “This is disappointing. I think he feels he owes it to the office.”
There have already been attempts to oust Gerhard Schröder from the SPD.
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