Ukraine denies posting
Schröder is in Moscow on his own
03/11/2022 11:44 p.m
Former Chancellor Schröder wants to act as a mediator in the Ukraine war based on his close relationship with the Russian President. Contrary to popular belief, Schröder came up with the idea of talking to Putin about the conflict himself, says Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Melnyk.
According to the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, the initiative for Gerhard Schröder’s trip to Russia came from the former Chancellor himself. “I’m not allowed to reveal any details at the moment,” said Melnyk in the “Bild” program “Vviertel nach Eight”. But the proposal for this initiative had come from Schröder in the past few days, it was not at the request of Ukraine. Schröder reported indirectly, “through certain contacts who also have contacts with Ukraine.”
According to the ambassador, this was done through the Swiss publisher Ringier. Melnyk went on to say: “There aren’t that many people around the world, and perhaps also in Germany, who have this personal connection to Mr. Putin.” When asked about the results of the talks in Moscow, the ambassador said he could say “that we may hear directly from Mr. Schröder tomorrow” about the results of the meeting with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. “I know that Mr. Schröder is willing to report about it, through channels that are now virtually not public. And that’s good that at least there’s some hope.”
Schröder traveled to Moscow on Wednesday to hold talks with Putin about the Ukraine war. Corresponding reports were confirmed by the German Press Agency. According to dpa information, a conversation between Schröder and Putin took place on Thursday. The Kremlin did not comment on Friday.
Scholz wants to “take note of the results”
Schröder had not coordinated his trip to Moscow with the federal government. According to dpa information, he traveled to Moscow via Istanbul. He met a Ukrainian delegation in the Turkish metropolis before he was picked up by a Russian plane and flown to Moscow on Wednesday.
In his efforts to end the war in Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz also wants to take into account the talks that Schröder is conducting in Moscow. “We will certainly be able to take note of the results and include them in everything we have done on our own,” said Scholz after the EU summit in Versailles, France. However, he did not want to comment further on Schröder’s initiative.
Schröder has long been friends with Putin. The former chancellor also works as a lobbyist for the natural gas pipeline companies Nord Stream 1 and 2 and is chairman of the supervisory board of the Russian oil company Rosneft. Despite the Ukraine war and massive pressure from his own party, he is still holding on to the post.