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Foreign policy experts from the former party of Gerhard Schr\u00f6der are calling for a serious assessment of Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s proposal for the former German chancellor to be used as a mediator in the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery offer must be seriously assessed to determine how reliable it is,\u201d said Adis Ahmetovic, foreign policy spokesman for the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), speaking to Der Spiegel news magazine on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d said Ahmetovic.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf 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.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cIf this could be achieved through someone like Schr\u00f6der, it would be negligent to rule it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. \u201cOf all European politicians, I would prefer talks with Schr\u00f6der.\u201d<\/p>\n
The German government has expressed scepticism regarding Putin\u2019s proposal. Government sources in Berlin stated that they had taken note of the remarks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, Germany and Europe will not allow themselves to be divided by this,\u201d they added. \u201cA first test of credibility would be for Russia to extend the ceasefire.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n