Foreign policy experts from the former party of Gerhard Schröder are calling for a serious assessment of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for the former German chancellor to be used as a mediator in the war in Ukraine.
“Every offer must be seriously assessed to determine how reliable it is,” said Adis Ahmetovic, foreign policy spokesman for the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), speaking to Der Spiegel news magazine on Sunday.
“We cannot accept that the US and Russia alone decide the future of Ukraine and European security. Our aim must be to have a seat at the negotiating table,” said Ahmetovic.
“If a condition for this is the involvement of the former German chancellor, it should be considered in close consultation with our European partners and not immediately ruled out.” A first test of credibility would be an extended ceasefire on both sides, he said.
SPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner expressed a similar view. So far, he said, Europe has not been involved in the negotiations and is unable to make proposals. “If this could be achieved through someone like Schröder, it would be negligent to rule it out.”
Putin had said at a press conference that although the US had attempted to mediate, he could envisage the former SPD leader acting as a mediator on the European side. “Of all European politicians, I would prefer talks with Schröder.”
The German government has expressed scepticism regarding Putin’s proposal. Government sources in Berlin stated that they had taken note of the remarks.
“However, Germany and Europe will not allow themselves to be divided by this,” they added. “A first test of credibility would be for Russia to extend the ceasefire.”