
Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder celebrates the 74th birthday of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which sparks sharp criticism in Germany.
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Gerhard Schröder is known for his close personal connection to Vladimir Putin and his involvement with Russian energy companies.
Berlin. After his visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin's birthday party in Moscow, former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder came under massive criticism. The Green Party politician Katrin Göring-Eckardt and the chairwoman of the European Parliament's Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), described the visit as a disgrace. According to the Kremlin, Schröder celebrated his 74th birthday with Kremlin leader Putin on Wednesday.
Schröder was Chancellor from 1998 to 2005. The 82-year-old is close friends with Putin and has been criticized for years because of, among other things, this close connection and his commitment to Russian energy companies. Since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, Schröder has met with Putin repeatedly.
The Kremlin announced on the Telegram platform that Putin learned of Schröder's presence in the Russian capital from the media on Wednesday morning. “The President invited his old friend to his home,” it continued. Photos were also shown showing the two men smiling and holding their hands tightly around each other.

Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder came under sharp criticism after attending Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday in Moscow. Politicians from the CDU, Greens and FDP condemned the trip as a disgrace and betrayal, while the SPD called for differentiation.

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