“You can neither politically nor economically isolate a country like Russia in the long term.” The former chancellor Gerhard Schröderdefends his privileged relationship with Vladimir Putin in a lengthy interview with the New York Times.
The Social Democratic leader, who ruled Germany from 1998 to 2005, became a businessman for Russian energy giants after retiring from politics. He is currently a senior executive at Rosneft and the Russian companies dealing with the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, but he could also join from June next year Gazprom. Well, despite heavy criticism from home and abroad, Schröder does not want to give up and, on the contrary, wants to start over again: “German industry needs Russian raw materials, not just oil and gas, but also rare earths”.
Schröder would only consider withdrawing from Russian companies if Moscow decides to shut off gas supplies to Europe. “I have always represented German interests. I’ll do what I can,” the former German chancellor confidently assured that “at least some” of his fellow citizens still have confidence in him. However, to dispel any doubts, he reiterates: “This war was a mistake and I always said “.
An attitude that probably also dictates the will to maintain an attempt at mediation with the Kremlin leaseholder in order to reach a ceasefire soon Ukraine. Last March he traveled to Moscow, where he met with the Russian President. “Putin is interested in ending the war. But it’s not that easy,” the former chancellor told the Times. In fact, there are still many points to be clarified before peace can be reached. investigation”, but Schröder considers it unlikely that the order came from Putin. In short, no ‘mea culpa’ from the former chancellor for his pro-Russian positions, which are so embarrassing for the current German leader, the Social Democrat Olaf Scholz.