EU rejects Putin's proposal for ex-German chancellor Schroeder as negotiator

Foreign ministers of the European Union have rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to act as a representative for European nations in upcoming security discussions. On Saturday, Putin expressed his belief that the conflict in Ukraine is nearing its conclusion and indicated a desire to establish new security frameworks for Europe, naming Schroeder as his ideal collaborator. Nevertheless, during a meeting in Brussels on Monday, EU ministers expressed doubts about Russia's commitment to genuinely ending the war and engaging in negotiations. Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief and former prime minister of Estonia, dismissed Schroeder's potential involvement, citing his connections to Russian state enterprises and Putin. Kallas warned that permitting Russia to choose a negotiator for Europe would be imprudent, as it would place Schroeder in a conflicting position. When questioned about her potential participation in such discussions, Kallas noted her awareness of Russia's tactics.