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The European Union is preparing for potential peace talks with Russia over the war in Ukraine, as U.S.-led efforts appear to have stalled. Moscow, however, has floated a controversial idea: appointing former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a mediator with Europe — a proposal unlikely to gain support in Brussels or Kyiv.
Europe seeks a role — but not neutrality
European leaders signal readiness to join negotiations, not as neutral brokers but as a party backing Ukraine. European Council President António Costa said he is consulting all 27 EU leaders on how to organize future engagement with Moscow when the timing is right. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also encouraged Europe to be ready to contribute constructively.
Moscow’s signal — and Schröder’s role
The Kremlin responded quickly. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia remains open to dialogue but will not initiate it. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin suggested Schröder as his preferred interlocutor, while adding he would speak to any politician who has not “spoken badly” about Russia.
Schröder, who led Germany from 1998 to 2005, later became closely tied to Russian energy interests, including senior roles in projects like Nord Stream. His long-standing ties to Moscow have made him one of the most controversial pro-Russian figures in Europe.
Strong backlash from Ukraine and the EU
Both Kyiv and Brussels firmly reject Schröder’s candidacy. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha dismissed the idea outright, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas argued Schröder cannot be a credible mediator given his lobbying for Russian state companies.
Political analysts suggest Putin’s proposal may be less serious than strategic — a way to shape the rules of engagement or provoke division within Europe.
Who could represent Europe?
A more realistic candidate could be Frank-Walter Steinmeier. According to German media, his name is being discussed within Berlin’s ruling coalition. Steinmeier has prior experience in Ukraine-Russia diplomacy, notably through the so-called “Steinmeier Formula” linked to the Minsk agreements.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, however, he has taken a much firmer stance against Moscow, strengthening his credibility in Kyiv and across Europe.
Key obstacles
Despite growing interest, Europe still faces two major challenges:
– agreeing on a single representative;
– securing acceptance from both Russia and the United States to join the negotiation table.
For now, the format of any future talks remains unclear — whether Europe would join an existing framework or pursue parallel negotiations with Moscow.
