German politician Merz criticises former Chancellor Schröder for attending Putin's birthday celebration in Moscow
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder attended Vladimir Putin's birthday celebration in Moscow on Wednesday. He was appointed to Hyperglobus's supervisory board. The Kremlin said Putin invited him. German officials condemned the visit as immoral and a disgrace.
- Gerhard Schröder served as Germany's chancellor from 1998 to 2005.
- Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder attended Vladimir Putin's birthday celebration in Moscow on Wednesday.
- Russian media reported Schröder was appointed to the supervisory board of Hyperglobus's Russian subsidiary.
- The Kremlin stated that Putin invited his old friend Schröder to his birthday event.
- Schröder has been criticized for close ties to Russia and support for Russian energy companies.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Schröder's visit to Putin 'absolutely immoral' and 'a disgrace to Germany'.
- Putin suggested Schröder could represent European nations in peace talks.
- Katrin Göring-Eckardt and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann called the visit a disgrace.
- The Kremlin shared photos showing Schröder and Putin shaking hands and smiling.
- The Foreign Office, German Embassy in Ukraine, and Federal Ministry of the Interior were not informed of the visit.
- Vladimir Putin celebrated his 74th birthday in Moscow on Wednesday.
- Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann described Schröder as Germany's most audacious retiree.
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