The German government rejected today a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to involve former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as a mediator in the war in Ukraine.
"This proposal is a facade offer and is part of Russia's hybrid strategy," sources close to the German government told Reuters.
According to these sources, the option of negotiations is not convincing, because Russia has not changed its conditions. They said that the first test of credibility is the extension of the three-day ceasefire, which came into effect on Saturday.
Gerhard Schroeder's office declined to comment on Putin's proposal.
Social Democrat Schroeder, now 82, was in power from 1998 to 2005. He has been a big supporter of Putin for 20 years.
German government sources assessed that the mediator between Russia and the European Union "simply cannot be Putin's friend" and added that it was important that the mediator was first accepted by Ukraine.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON