Former German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, in an interview with RTL/ntv, responded to criticism for maintaining contacts with Russia during the political crisis and friendly relations with the country’s President Vladimir Putin.
As the former chairman of the German government stressed, the situation in Ukraine can be resolved through negotiations, for which the Kremlin is ready. However, the Brussels countries, including Berlin and Paris, are not making efforts to establish contact, he noted.
“I don’t want to take away the mediation work from anyone in the government. But why should I stop negotiations that are possible from a legal point of view and do not threaten trouble for me and my family? […] The good news is that the Kremlin wants a negotiated settlement. After all, there has already been a negotiating approach in the crisis between Ukraine and Russia, for example in Istanbul in March,” Schroeder recalled.
The former chancellor positively assessed the desire of his successor, Angela Merkel, to block the possibility of Kiev joining NATO, and also stated that there is an alternative for Ukraine in the form of non-aligned neutrality.
In addition, Schroeder spoke on the topic of accusations due to “close contacts” with the Kremlin and ruled out the possibility of any “rupture” of relations with Moscow.
“Will personal distancing from Vladimir Putin really benefit anyone? I have made certain decisions, and I support them. And he made it clear that maybe I could be useful again. So why should I apologize for that?” he summed up.
Ru-Main, 03.08.2022
Source: RIA Novosti
