Vladimir Putin has a surprising nominee to help end the war in Ukraine: Gerhard Schröder, the former German chancellor who has remained close to the Russian president long after leaving office. The reaction in Berlin is deeply divided.
German officials have reacted cautiously to Putin’s surprise suggestion, saying they had “taken note” of his comments but viewed them as part of “a series of bogus offers” from Russia, government sources told Agence France-Presse. One source said a real test of Moscow’s intentions would be to extend the current three-day truce.
Schröder, 82, has stood apart from most Western leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. He previously held key roles in Russian energy projects, including work on the Nord Stream gas pipelines and a seat on the board of Russian oil firm Rosneft, which he gave up in 2022. Putin on Saturday said he thinks the Ukraine war is winding down and nominated Schröder as a potential key negotiator to help end the conflict.
The proposal has exposed a rift within Germany’s political establishment. Some see an opportunity. Others see a non-starter.
The Case Against Schröder
Michael Roth, a former lawmaker from Germany’s Social Democratic party and chair of the foreign affairs committee, was blunt. A mediator, he said, “cannot be Putin’s buddy,” in an interview with Tagesspiegel. He stressed that any mediator must above all be accepted by Ukraine. “Neither Moscow nor we can decide that on Kyiv’s behalf.”
Roth’s position is clear. Schröder’s ties to Putin are not an asset for mediation. They are a disqualification. A negotiator who is seen as the Russian president’s friend cannot be trusted to broker a fair peace. Ukraine would likely reject him outright.
The German government’s initial reaction suggests skepticism at the highest levels. Calling Putin’s offers “bogus” is not diplomatic language. It is a dismissal.
The Case For Considering It
Others within the SPD have been more open to Putin’s suggestion. Quoted by Der Spiegel, the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson in parliament, Adis Ahmetovic, said the proposal needs to be “carefully considered” with European partners. SPD lawmaker Ralf Stegner argued that “if we don’t want Putin and (US President Donald) Trump to decide Ukraine’s future alone,” Europe should seize every possible chance — however small.
That argument rests on geopolitical realism. The United States is already engaging with Russia. Trump’s envoys are heading to Moscow. If Europe refuses to engage, it may be left out of the negotiations entirely. A flawed mediator may be better than no seat at the table.
The question is whether Schröder is a flawed mediator or a compromised one. The SPD is split on the answer.
The Ceasefire Under Strain
The debate over Schröder comes as the US-mediated ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine appeared under serious strain on its second day. Both sides have accused the other of violating the deal through weekend attacks. Three people were killed in Russian drone strikes on areas near the frontline, and more than 200 battlefield clashes had taken place since early Saturday, Ukrainian officials said. Russia’s defence ministry said it had downed 57 Ukrainian drones over the past day and “responded in kind” on the battlefield.
A ceasefire that is being violated by both sides on day two is not a foundation for lasting peace. It is a pause. And pauses can collapse.
The US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Moscow “soon enough” to continue talks with Russia, news agency Interfax reported Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov as saying on Sunday. Washington is pushing forward. Europe is still debating who should represent it.
The Wider Context
The Guardian’s Ukraine war briefing also reported other developments. Russia has accused Armenia of providing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with “a platform for anti-Russian remarks,” in a further sign of a chill in relations between traditional allies Moscow and Yerevan. On a visit to Yerevan last week, Zelenskyy said Russia feared “drones may buzz over Red Square” in Moscow during the annual parade on May 9. The Kremlin spokesperson said Russia was awaiting an explanation from Yerevan.
Latvia’s defence minister resigned on Sunday, following the recent incursion of two Ukrainian drones into its territory that hit oil storage facilities. Minister Andris Spruds’s decision followed a call for his resignation from Latvia’s prime minister, who stated he had “lost (her) trust and that of the public.” The prime minister said anti-drone systems had not been deployed quickly enough. The Ukrainian foreign minister said that the drones had flown into Latvia as a result of “Russian electronic warfare.”
These incidents are reminders that the war does not stop at Ukraine’s borders. Drones cross into NATO territory. Defence ministers resign. And peace remains distant.
The Bottom Line
Vladimir Putin has proposed that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder act as a mediator in the Ukraine peace talks. Schröder, 82, has remained close to Putin since leaving office, serving on the boards of Russian energy companies and standing apart from most Western leaders after the 2022 invasion. German officials have reacted cautiously, with one government source calling Putin’s offers part of “a series of bogus offers.”
Within Germany’s Social Democratic Party, the proposal has split opinion. Former foreign affairs committee chair Michael Roth said a mediator “cannot be Putin’s buddy” and must be accepted by Ukraine. Other SPD lawmakers argued that Europe should seize every chance for peace, however small, to avoid being excluded from US-Russia negotiations.
The current three-day US-mediated ceasefire is under strain, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Meanwhile, US envoys are preparing to visit Moscow. Europe is still debating whether Schröder should be at the table — or whether he is too close to Putin to be trusted.
