Daily Finland
EU and Ukrainian top diplomats largely rejected a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to make former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder a European mediator in potential talks to bring the Ukraine war to an end. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Monday that Kiev would not agree to Schröder as a mediator. "We definitely dont support that. However, there are plenty of worthy leader," Sybiha told journalists, ahead of attending a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels as a guest. "If we'd give the right to Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf, you know, that would not be very wise," said EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas on Monday. Kallas said Schröder has been a "high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies." Appointing Schröder as a mediator would mean that Putin "would be sitting on both sides of the table," she said. On Saturday, Putin said: "Of all European politicians, I would prefer talks with Schröder." The Russian leader also said he thought the war was tending towards an end. Schröder, 82, a centre-left politician who served as German chancellor between 1998 and 2005, has been a controversial figure for years because of his friendship with Putin and his role in Russian energy firms. Schröder took up a significant role in Russian energy companies directly after leaving German politics. "A mediator must be accepted by both sides. This seems to be clearly lacking here," said German State Minister Gunther Krichbaum. "Former chancellor Schröder hasn't exactly demonstrated the necessary qualities in the past to act as a neutral mediator, an honest broker, so to speak." "He has certainly allowed himself to be heavily influenced by Mr. Putin. Close friendships may be legitimate everywhere in the world, but they don't necessarily make one a fair and honest mediator," Krichbaum said. "Obviously, it is not Russia that chooses the mediator on the European side," said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. The EU's 27 member countries would have to decide collectively who would best represent the bloc, he said. In response to a question from dpa, Schröder's office said the former chancellor, regarded by many in Germany as disgraced because of his ongoing ties to Putin, would not comment. Putin emphasized that a peaceful solution to the long-running conflict was for Ukraine and Russia to find. "But if someone would like to help, we would be grateful," he said.
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