Former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder said that, without a doubt, he would be at the parade in Moscow this year on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.
He recalled that Nazi Germany had caused immense pain to the then Soviet Union.
"I consider it correct to show responsibility for that. I took note that Chancellor Angela Merkel, taking into account the international circumstances, did not go. I would have made a different decision. However, Merkel was in Moscow a day later and laid a wreath together with the Russian president .It was a good signal for German-Russian relations," Schröder praised Merkel's actions.
Schroeder answered in the affirmative to the question of the "Bild" tabloid whether he would still call Russian President Vladimir Putin his friend today.
"Yes, for sure," said Schroeder and, regarding the events in Ukraine, assessed that history and the current situation must be separated from each other and that regardless of the fact that one cannot agree with everything that the current Russian government is doing, one must admit that there is a historical responsibility.
He also explained this by the fact that during the Iraq war, when the Germans were against it, Germany still protected the American barracks in Germany.
When it comes to relations with Russia and Putin, Schroeder said that it must be known that there are certain fears in Russia, to which a Russian president must react.
"That's why it's not always the right way in which the West treats Russia. The Ukrainian issue is always talked about only by tightening and extending the sanctions against Russia. Why don't Western politicians once ask themselves whether the sanctions can be eased or abolished, when it comes to progress in Ukraine. That's what US Secretary of State John Kerry did in Sochi..." said Schroeder.
When it comes to Greece, he judged that it was right to help that country in its debt crisis.
"My advice - Europe should help Greece implement the necessary reforms. We should not allow the international financial markets to ruin a country... I assume that Greece will remain in the eurozone..." said Schroeder.
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