Germany’s Schröder Reportedly in Moscow

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is reportedly visiting Moscow on Tuesday.

German outlet NTV said one of its correspondents spotted Schröder at Moscow’s Kempinski Hotel. The purpose of the visit remains unclear, but it comes ahead of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which is set to begin on Wednesday.

For the first time since 2022, an official linked to a US administration is also expected to attend the forum, one of Russia’s flagship economic events organized by the Kremlin-affiliated Roscongress Foundation.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin previously proposed Schröder – a personal friend known for his pro-Kremlin stance – as a potential EU negotiator after the bloc expressed interest in talks with Russia over Ukraine.

Berlin has rejected the proposal.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, “We Europeans decide for ourselves who speaks for us, no one else does.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also dismissed the proposal and called Schröder a “Russian lobbyist.”

Who is Gerhard Schröder?

Gerhard Schröder served as the German chancellor from 1998 to 2005, before being succeeded by Angela Merkel.

Shortly before leaving office, he signed the first Nord Stream gas pipeline agreement with Russia. He later took on management roles at the North European Gas Pipeline company, affiliated with the Russian gas giant Gazprom, prompting accusations of corruption and cronyism.

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