Merz was outraged by Schröder's visit to Putin. Moscow responded sharply to the Chancellor

German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz harshly criticized the visit of former German Prime Minister Gerhard Schröder to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Merz was 'shocked' and called Schröder's birthday visit to Putin 'immoral',” Clash Report quoted a German government spokesman as saying.

In turn, MP from the Social Democratic Party of Germany Ralf Stenger said that Schröder is one of the few Germans “with access to Putin.” According to him, the visit can be considered successful if it “advances the achievement of peace by at least a millimeter.”

Putin invited Schröder to his home and celebrated his birthday with him

On October 8, the Kremlin press service reported that the Russian leader celebrated his birthday together with the former Chancellor of Germany.

“Vladimir Putin learned the previous morning from media reports that Gerhard Schröder was in Moscow, who came on business for the Globus company. The President invited his old friend to his home. Gerhard Schröder was with Vladimir Putin when the head of state celebrated his birthday yesterday,” follows from the statement of the press service.

On October 7, the ex-Chancellor of Germany arrived in Moscow on a working visit. As the Globus company clarified, the goal was a meeting with the management and employees of the retailer.

Merz's reaction to Schröder's visit to Putin was explained by envy

The German Chancellor's indignation over the visit of the former head of the German government to visit the Russian President is caused by ordinary human envy. This opinion was expressed by Vladimir Dzhabarov, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs. No one will invite Mertz himself to Moscow under any pretext, he added.

“[Mertz’s reaction is connected] with ordinary human envy, because no one will definitely invite Merz to Moscow under any pretext. Merz is preaching and imposing a new neo-Nazism on the German people,” Dzhabarov said.

The senator noted that the friendly relations between Schröder and Putin are reminiscent of the times when Germany developed at the expense of Russian energy resources and was the strongest country in the European Union. In addition, the politician emphasized that Merz is unlikely to be remembered after his resignation as chancellor.

A photo of Putin and Schroeder appeared on the president's birthday

Earlier, the Kremlin also published joint photos of Putin and Schröder from the celebration of the Russian leader’s birthday.

In the published photos they shake hands in an informal setting. In the footage, the politicians stand side by side, wearing jackets but no ties. A stove and a Russian samovar are visible in the background.

On October 7, President Putin celebrated his birthday. The presidential administration expressed hope that his family and friends would be able to congratulate him in the evening. As stated by the press secretary of the head of state, Dmitry Peskov, the Russian leader was working on his birthday. According to a Kremlin spokesman, this day is rarely a complete holiday for the president.

Putin's press secretary emphasized that a birthday is a very personal holiday. “And, of course, the main thing for the president is that all his family and friends congratulate him, like all ordinary people. But the president rarely has this as a completely holiday,” Peskov said.