Merz criticises former chancellor Schröder's visit and celebration of Putin's birthday "absolutely immoral"

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sharply criticised former chancellor Gerhard Schröder's visit to Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his celebration of Putin's birthday.

Source: European Pravda, citing ntv

Details: Chancellor Merz is "deeply outraged" by the meeting, said in Berlin Steffen Meyer, First Deputy Spokesperson of the Federal Government.

He said that "only Putin" is responsible for the war in Ukraine, and his orders cause "unspeakable suffering, civilian casualties, torn families, as well as death and casualties" every day.

Against this backdrop, the chancellor considers it "absolutely immoral" that Schröder is celebrating with Putin.

According to the relevant ministries, neither the Foreign Office, nor the German Embassy in Ukraine, nor the Federal Ministry of the Interior were informed of the visit in advance.

Previously, a number of German politicians had criticised former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

Background:

• The Kremlin previously announced that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had celebrated his 74th birthday in the company of former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
• On 7 October, former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder was in Moscow and visited a Globus home improvement store in Russia, after he secured a position on the supervisory board of Hyperglobus, its owner company.

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