Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has reportedly attended a birthday celebration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Schröder, who served as Chancellor from 1998 to 2005, has maintained personal ties with the Russian leader despite the widespread international isolation of the Kremlin following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Schröder’s continued association with Putin has been a point of significant controversy within German politics. Since leaving office, the former Chancellor has held various roles on the boards of major Russian state-owned energy companies, including Rosneft and Gazprom, though he faced intense domestic pressure to resign from these positions following the escalation of the war. His attendance at this private event serves as a reminder of his refusal to sever personal and professional ties with the Russian leadership, a stance that has alienated him from his own political party, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).

While the specific details of the event remain limited, the report confirms his presence at the gathering. The optics of the meeting have drawn criticism from various European officials who view such interactions as undermining the unified stance of Western nations against the Russian government. Schröder has previously defended his relationship with Putin, suggesting that personal diplomacy remains a necessary tool even during periods of extreme geopolitical tension. However, his critics argue that his actions provide a propaganda victory for the Kremlin, effectively normalizing relations with a leader currently subject to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.