Schroeder Joins Putin’s 74th Birthday Celebration

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder attended Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday celebration at his residence in Russia, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Pictures shared on Telegram showed the two leaders smiling and shaking hands inside a traditional Russian home.

According to the Kremlin, Putin learned that Schroeder was in Moscow on business for supermarket chain Globus and invited his longtime friend to his residence. Schroeder, who served as German chancellor from 1998 to 2005, recently joined the supervisory board of Russian supermarket chain Hyperglobus.

Schroeder has faced criticism in Germany over his close ties to Putin and Russian businesses, which continued even after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In May, Putin suggested Schroeder could represent European countries in peace talks, but European foreign ministers rejected the proposal.

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