One idea, scores of Europeans were outraged.

When asked about peace negotiations with Europeans, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned that his preferred negotiator would be Gerhard Schröeder, a former German Chancellor from an era when Germany and Russia had healthy, normal bilateral relations.

One need only take a look at the photos of the duo to see just how much they liked and respected each other.

Those were the days.

Deutsche Welle reported:

“Putin told reporters on Saturday: ‘Of all European politicians, I would prefer talks with Schröder’. The ex-chancellor has maintained close relations with Moscow and is a personal friend of Putin.

[…] In response to a question from DPA news agency, Schröder’s office said it would not comment on the matter.”

“The 82-year-old Schröder has courted controversy over his close ties to Russia, personal friendship with Putin and his role in Russian energy companies after leaving politics.”

[…] Writing in the Berliner Zeitung newspaper in January, Schröder described the Russian invasion as contrary to international law. ‘But I’m also against demonizing Russia as the eternal enemy’, he added, before urging Germany to restart imports of Russian energy, which were cut over the conflict.”

But of course, Europe is a land with too many bosses and too little consensus. In Germany, it has been reported that officials are considering allowing Schröder to act as an envoy in peace talks with Ukraine.

The Telegram reported:

“Berlin is said to be open to the idea that Mr. Schröder could take part in negotiations as long as he partners with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German president.

Putin said on Saturday night, after a military parade on Red Square, that Mr. Schröder could act as a mediator in future rounds of talks, after the Russian president said the war was ‘coming to an end’.”

To no one’s surprise, the Brussels establishment is up in arms against the idea.

Reuters reported:

“European governments on Monday rejected a suggestion by Russian President Vladimir Putin that former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could ‌represent them in possible future talks with Moscow on the continent’s security.

But European Union foreign ministers, attending a meeting in Brussels, were skeptical that Russia was ​ready to end the war and negotiate sincerely on peace and security for Europe.”

Kallas rejects Putin’s idea of appointing Schroeder as mediator between the EU and Russia

The EU’s top diplomat said allowing Russia to choose a negotiator on Europe’s behalf would be “not very wise.”

“Gerhard Schroeder was a high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned… pic.twitter.com/Dre6ZK8eMN

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 11, 2026

“It’s clear why Putin wants him to be ⁠the person – so that actually … he would be sitting on both sides of the table’, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters.

‘If we ​give the right to Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf … that would not be very wise’, said Kallas, a former prime minister of ​Estonia, a Baltic state that was ruled by Moscow as part of the Soviet Union.”

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The post THE SCHROEDER FACTOR: Putin Suggested the Former German Chancellor as Peace Negotiator, Berlin Reportedly Considering The Idea, But EU Officials Already Discarded It appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.