The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is not a suitable candidate to represent the bloc in peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, Politico reports.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin suggested over the weekend that Schröder, who was German chancellor from 1998 to 2005, could be the EU’s representative in peace talks. Schröder previously held positions in Russian state-owned energy companies.
Kallas, meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels, said that it would be unwise for the bloc to let Russia choose its representative for peace talks in the first place. Second, Kallas said that Schröder has been a high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies, and it is clear that this is why Putin wants to see him at the negotiating table – so that the former chancellor can “sit on both sides of the table.”
Until now, the US has acted as the main mediator in the Russia-Ukraine talks, and Europe has been on the sidelines, but
some leaders have called for Europe to take a more active role.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said over the weekend that Europe should participate in the talks, and that representatives from Germany, France and Britain should do so.
Asked under what conditions the EU could engage in direct talks with Putin, Kallas said that Moscow must give something in return, and cited the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova as an example. She added that Europe’s security problem is Russia’s continued attacks on its neighbors. That is why concessions are also needed from Russia, and the liberation of Moldova from the Russian presence could be one of the conditions for the security and stability of the region.
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