Former German cascellari Gerhard Schöder is involved in a new political debate after taking part in the 74th birthday celebration of Russian President Vladimir Putin's, at a time when Russian attacks were causing numerous civilian casualties in Ukraine.
According to Reuters agency, the Kremlin confirmed on Thursday, October 8th that Schöder had visited Putin at his residence in Moscow the day before.
Photos published by Russian authorities show two politicians smiling and holding hands.
The meeting took place as Ukraine was facing a wave of missile and intimidation attacks, which, according to Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky, caused 78 deaths and 215 injured within two days.
Schroeder at Putin's home
According to the Kremlin's announcement, Putin had learned from Russian media that the former German casino was in Moscow for a business visit.
The Russian president had later invited his old friend home to celebrate his birthday.
Schroeder, who led Germany from 1998 to 2005, continues to maintain personal relations with Putin despite tensions between Russia and Western countries.
The Reuters agency reports that the former helmet had travelled to Moscow for its commitments with the Russian chain of Hyperglobus supermarkets, where it has recently become a member of the supervisory board.
Tens of civilians killed during attacks
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, authorities reported serious consequences from Russian attacks.
According to Reuters, at least 35 people were killed Thursday in the eastern town of Kramatorsk, where a Russian bomb hit the two buses area.
A day earlier, a missile attack had hit a residential building in the town of Pryluky, killing 22 people, among them five children.
President Zelensky said the overall balance of attacks over two days had reached 78 people killed and 215 injured.
These figures were reported by Ukrainian authorities and do not represent an independently verified balance for each event.
Severe Reactions in Germany
Schroeder's visit has sparked criticism from politicians of various German parties.
According to the newspaper Bild, Greens politician Kathryn Göring-Eckardt named the former scientist's participation in the holiday as a disgrace to Germany and betrayal of Europe.
Even the FDP eurodeput, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman, sharply criticised the former cascellari, questioning his commitments in Russia.
Criticism is particularly focused on the fact that Schroeder continues to maintain personal and business relations with Moscow despite the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia.
A Friendship That Continues to Controversial
The relationship between Schröder and Putin has been controversial in German politics for years.
The former cellari has previously held positions in energy companies linked to Russia, including the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
Despite the criticism, he has not severed ties with the Russian president.
In May, Putin had proposed that Schroeder serve as mediator in negotiations between Russia and European countries, but the idea was rejected by European foreign ministers, according to Reuters.
The recent meeting in Moscow has brought the relationship between the two politicians back to the spotlight, as the war in Ukraine continues and diplomatic efforts for a peace deal remain without results.
For Schröder's critics, Putin's birthday attendance, in the same period that Ukrainian civilians were losing their lives in Russian attacks, is a politically unacceptable decision.
