European Union foreign ministers have rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could represent Europe in future security negotiations with Moscow. Putin recently said he was open to discussing new security arrangements for Europe and named Schroeder as his preferred negotiating partner. However, EU leaders argued that Schroeder’s close ties to Putin and his past work with Russian state energy companies make him unsuitable to act as an impartial mediator.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said allowing Russia to effectively choose Europe’s negotiator would be unwise, while Germany’s Europe minister Gunther Krichbaum stated that Schroeder could not be viewed as an “honest broker.” Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union has largely isolated Moscow through sanctions and limited diplomatic engagement. Many ministers also questioned whether Russia is genuinely ready for meaningful peace negotiations.
Despite the criticism, some European officials believe the EU should prepare for future direct talks with Moscow alongside ongoing US-led peace efforts. European Council President António Costa said discussions are already taking place among EU leaders about how Europe should approach any future negotiations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also said Europe could play a complementary role in peace talks, though several ministers stressed the bloc should first strengthen pressure on Russia and agree on a united strategy before entering negotiations.
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