Putin again touts German ex-chancellor Schröder as EU Ukraine mediator

Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended his proposal to nominate former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder as the EU's negotiator in peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, reported dpa.

"When I mentioned Mr Schröder's name, I had in mind someone who can be trusted," Putin said in the Kazakh capital Astana on Friday.

The fact that he is friends with Schröder is not a drawback, Putin argued. "What's wrong with that?" the Kremlin leader asked, calling the issue a matter of trust.

Schröder, who led Germany from 1998 to 2005, would still represent his national interests, Putin argued.

The former chancellor has received heavy criticism for his roles with Russian energy companies following his retirement from politics. EU leaders reacted coolly to Putin's suggestion for Schröder to lead talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

Putin emphasized that Russia was not dictating to Brussels whom it should appoint as a negotiator for any talks on ending the conflict. However, he argued that fruitful negotiations require a partner who has not attracted attention by taking a hard line against Russia.

At the same time, he accused the EU of refusing to engage in dialogue with Moscow.