The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could represent Europe in future peace talks. Speaking in Brussels on Monday, Kallas said allowing Russia to appoint a negotiator on Europe’s behalf would be unwise, adding that Schröder’s ties to Russian state companies would put him on both sides of the table.
Putin had floated Schröder as a potential mediator after claiming the Ukraine war was “coming to an end” and expressing openness to discussing new European security arrangements. However, German officials also rejected the idea, describing it as not credible and accusing Moscow of making bogus offers aimed at dividing Western allies.
The rejection comes amid ongoing violations of a US-backed temporary ceasefire, with Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of continued drone strikes and clashes. Meanwhile, Latvia’s defence minister resigned after two Ukrainian drones struck oil storage tanks in the country, prompting calls for stronger Nato air defences in the Baltic region.
