Schröder Joins Putin for Moscow Birthday Celebration

Former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder joined Russian President Vladimir Putin at Putin's Moscow home on October 7, 2026, the president's 74th birthday. The Kremlin said Putin learned from the media that Schröder was in Moscow on business and invited his old friend over. "Yesterday morning, Mr Putin found out from the media that Gerhard Schroeder was in Moscow on business. The president invited his old friend to join him," the Kremlin posted on Telegram. Photos show the two shaking hands and smiling beside an old-style stove, a samovar, and rocking-horse figurines. Schröder, 82, chancellor from 1998 to 2005, recently joined the supervisory board of Hyperglobus, the Russian operator of the former Globus chain. Russian TV showed employees applauding him at a Moscow store that Wednesday. He earlier sat on Gazprom's board and has had his privileges as a former German head of government withdrawn. CONTESTED: In May 2026 Putin suggested Schröder could mediate or represent Europe in Ukraine peace talks; European foreign ministers rejected that role. The record lists one left-rated outlet and no center- or right-rated coverage.