Sharp Backlash in Germany Over Gerhard Schröder's Attendance at Putin's Birthday Amid Ukraine Conflict
Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has been sharply criticized for attending Vladimir Putin's birthday party amid deadly Russian attacks in Ukraine, raising questions about his motivations and health claims.
Key details
- Gerhard Schröder attended Putin's birthday celebration in Moscow amid ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reported dozens of deaths during recent bombings coinciding with the party.
- German politicians like Katrin Göring-Eckardt and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann condemned Schröder's attendance as a betrayal and questioned his health claims.
- Schröder recently joined the board of Russian supermarket Hyperglobus, raising concerns about his motives and connections.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder faces intense criticism after attending Russian President Vladimir Putin's birthday party in Moscow, an event that coincided with deadly Russian military attacks in Ukraine. Schröder's presence at the celebration has been condemned by prominent German politicians as a betrayal to Europe and a disgrace to Germany.
Schröder's attendance was notable as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported at least 78 deaths and over 215 injuries in Ukraine due to recent bombings during the period around the party. Zelenskyy described one of the attacks, killing at least 25 people, as a "birthday gift for Putin." According to reports, Putin himself was initially unaware of Schröder's presence until media coverage surfaced, after which he invited the former Chancellor to his residence where they took photos together.
German political figures expressed strong disapproval. Katrin Göring-Eckardt from the Green Party called Schröder's actions "a disgrace for Germany" and "a betrayal of Europe." Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann of the FDP harshly questioned Schröder's health claims, suggesting that he appeared healthy enough to attend lavish festivities while reportedly unable to participate in parliamentary inquiries. CDU's Dennis Radtke further mocked Schröder's apparently miraculous recovery for the Moscow visit.
The controversy is compounded by Schröder's recent appointment to the supervisory board of Hyperglobus, a Russian supermarket chain involved in maintaining German business ties with Russia. This move has intensified scrutiny over Schröder's motivations, as his long-standing personal and political ties to Putin remain a source of debate and concern within Germany, especially amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Schröder's actions highlight the tension in German politics surrounding former leaders maintaining close connections with Russia, even as Germany and Europe navigate the geopolitical fallout of Russian aggression. The incident underscores the deep divides over how to respond to Russia's military actions and the ethics of personal alliances with Putin during a period marked by significant violence and loss in Ukraine.
Source articles (2)
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bild.de Oct 9, 2026
„Eine Schande für Deutschland“: Scharfe Kritik an Schröder nach Putin-Feier
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tagesspiegel.de Oct 9, 2026
„Eine Schande für Deutschland, ein Verrat an Europa“ Schwere Kritik für Schröders Teilnahme an Putins Geburtstagsfeier
Source comparison
Number of fatalities in Ukraine
Sources report different casualty numbers from the attack in Ukraine during Schröder's visit.
bild.de
"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj reported that 78 people had died and 215 were injured due to Russian bombings in Ukraine over two days."
tagesspiegel.de
"The attack on Ukraine resulted in at least 25 fatalities."
Why this matters: One source states that 78 people died, while the other reports at least 25 fatalities. This discrepancy significantly affects the understanding of the severity of the situation in Ukraine during Schröder's attendance at the celebration.