As of: March 29, 2024, 12:33 p.m
By: Marcus Giebel
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In an interview, Gerhard Schröder once again brings himself into discussion as a mediator in the Ukraine war. The Kremlin received the sentences favorably.
Moscow – When Gerhard Schröder speaks, Vladimir Putin likes to listen. The Ukraine war didn't change that. The former SPD chancellor is one of the few politicians in the West who remains loyal to his good friend from the Kremlin despite the attack on Ukraine. He seems to be closer to the Russian president than to the current leaders of his party.
Schröder as a mediator in the Ukraine war? Moscow sees “good and constructive relations”
Schröder also made this clear in an interview with the
German Press Agency (dpa)
on the occasion of his upcoming 80th birthday, in which he spoke of people “whom I can only take politically seriously to a limited extent” with regard to the leadership of the SPD. There is only praise for Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose clear rejection of ground troops in Ukraine and Taurus cruise missiles for Kiev supports Schröder.
What may be even more interesting for Moscow are the statements in which the native of North Rhine-Westphalia introduced himself into the conversation as a mediator. Dmitri Peskov was also pleased with Schröder's statements. “Good and constructive relationships on a personal level can always help solve problems in communication between states,” the Kremlin spokesman was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency
Tass
.
Both Schröder and Putin, who recently openly defended his German friend, have already proven this in the past: “This has really helped to solve some very difficult problems and maintain bilateral relations.” To bring us back to today's states, and heads of government in the West, Putin's voice added: "Unfortunately, we do not see such political will among today's politicians and do not hear such words from them."
New project (1).jpg © Michael Kappeler/dpa, IMAGO/ITAR-TASS
Germany and Ukraine War: Many calls for a freeze
However, at least with regard to the German party landscape, this accusation does not hold water. Shortly after the invasion began, voices were raised in the Left and the AfD that everything must be done to find a peace solution as quickly as possible. However, there is often the idea of freezing the war, which would allow Putin to claim part of Ukraine from now on and, due to this Russian partial success, a renewed escalation seems anything but absurd.
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Parts of the SPD and the newly founded Sahra Wagenknecht alliance, which emerged from the ranks of the Left, are now also communicating the plan to end the war as quickly as possible. The big question remains what a peace that both Kiev and the Kremlin would agree to would look like.
Rolf Mützenich recently found out how quickly you can burn your fingers on this topic. During another Taurus debate in the Bundestag, the SPD parliamentary group leader spoke of freezing the war and then came under heavy fire from the CDU/CSU and from the SPD's traffic light partners.
Schröder on relationship with Putin: “Can still help with negotiated solution”
Schröder, whose expulsion from the party failed, had already tried to act as a mediator in Moscow in 2022, a few weeks after Russia's attack, following a request from Kiev. Which apparently didn't work. Nevertheless, he does not want to give up hope that his friendship with Putin can contribute to peace.
“It at least looked as if this personal relationship could sometimes be helpful in solving an extremely difficult political problem,” Schröder recalled in the interview. And stated: “We have worked together sensibly for many years. Maybe that can still help to find a negotiated solution, I don’t see any other solution.”
Even a war cannot shake this friendship: In May 2018, Gerhard Schröder (m.) visited Russian President Vladimir Putin (l.), and he still stands by him today. © IMAGO / ITAR-TASS
Criticism of Schröder's proposal: Strack-Zimmermann considers the former chancellor to have been "wrongly done"
However, Maria-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has serious doubts about this. In an interview with
Welt TV
, the FDP politician accused Schröder of being “so wrong.” The chairwoman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag added: “Seriously to believe that Gerhard Schröder has an influence on Putin. We should be careful not to overestimate ourselves, and I think that includes Mr. Schröder.”
For the former Chancellor, who celebrated “Victory Day” in the Russian Embassy in 2023, it is now clear: “It is obvious that the war cannot end with a total defeat of one side or the other.” Maybe This is the only foreign policy sentence Schröder made in this interview that Putin and Peskov would not sign.
(mg)