Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (Gerhard Schröder), widely criticized in Germany for his proximity to the Kremlin and activities in Russian state concerns, confirmed that in late July again met with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. In an interview with the weekly Stern and RTL/n-tv channelspublished on Wednesday, August 3, he said that Putin would like to find a solution to the conflict with Ukraine and the West through negotiations.
Ex-chancellor again refused to break off relations with Putin
Schroeder considers the first success in this process to be the conclusion of an agreement between the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN on the export of Ukrainian food by sea. “Perhaps this could be slowly expanded to a ceasefire,” he pointed out. An agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain was signed in Istanbul on July 22; less than a day later, the port of Odessa came under rocket fire from the Russian side.
At the same time, the former German chancellor spoke about the special responsibility that Germany and France bear and noted that at present their actions are insufficient to end the military conflict in Ukraine. He praised the efforts to resolve the conflict, which are being made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In addition to the July agreement on grain, the ex-chancellor mentioned in this connection the March talks in Turkey between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations.
Schroeder, whom the media considers a longtime friend of Putin, again called the Russian invasion of Ukraine a “mistake of the Russian government”, but at the same time once again refused to cut off his personal relationship with the Russian President. He had already “condemned the war several times” and at the same time wondered whether “his personal distancing from Vladimir Putin would benefit anyone,” the ex-chancellor further stated and said that he had already made a decision on this matter and did not refuse it .
Strong criticism of Schröder in Germany
In early March, a few days after the start of a full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, Schroeder came to Moscow and spoke with Putin about the war. After that, he said that the Kremlin was interested in a negotiated solution. With the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, criticism of Gerhard Schroeder sharply intensified in Germany. Several of his employees resigned in protest against his stance on Russia, and in May the ruling coalition deprived the former chancellor of the office in the Bundestagwhich relied on him for life and was financed from the state budget.
Currently, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) is fighting against Schroeder. withdrawal procedure, relevant applications were received from 17 district and city party associations. In the party, even his former closest associates, including the current one, distanced themselves from him. Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Frank-Walter Steinmeier).
See also:
-
Putin’s war in Ukraine and its consequences around the world
Going to the store has become more expensive
In Germany, consumers are outraged by the rising cost of living. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting Western sanctions against the Russian Federation played a decisive role in this. The last time the inflation rate in the country, comparable to March 2022, was observed in Germany in 1981. The federal government wants to impose an embargo on coal supplies from the Russian Federation within months, but is slow to ban gas and oil imports.
-
Putin’s war in Ukraine and its consequences around the world
Lines at gas stations in Kenya
The effects of the war in Ukraine are also being felt in Nairobi, where long lines form at gas stations. Fuel is becoming scarce and expensive. The food crisis is exacerbating the situation.
-
Putin’s war in Ukraine and its consequences around the world
Rising Bread Prices in Turkey
Russia is one of the world’s largest wheat producers. One of the consequences of the ban on grain exports imposed by the Russian Federation was the rise in bread prices in Turkey. This is a clear example of how international sanctions are disrupting supply chains. Ukraine is one of the largest exporters of wheat. However, in the conditions of war, ships with grain from this country cannot leave the Black Sea ports.
-
Putin’s war in Ukraine and its consequences around the world
Rise in wheat prices in Iraq
This worker stacks sacks of flour at Jamila, a popular wholesale market in Baghdad. In Iraq, too, wheat prices skyrocketed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with both warring countries accounting for at least 30 percent of the world’s wheat trade. Iraq has remained neutral so far, but posters expressing support for Putin are now banned in the country.
-
Putin’s war in Ukraine and its consequences around the world
Protests in Peru
The photo shows the unrest in the capital of Peru, Lima. The protests there since the beginning of April are aimed, in particular, against the rise in prices for food, fuel and fertilizer, which has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. On April 5, President Pedro Castillo was forced to impose a curfew, but canceled it a day later, after which the protests continued.
-
Putin’s war in Ukraine and its consequences around the world
Crisis in Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, too, there are demonstrations, with people expressing their dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living, fuel shortages and power outages. In early April, protesters even attempted to storm the residence of President Gotabai Rajapaksa. The latter declared a state of emergency and turned to India and China for help in supplying the necessary resources.
-
Putin’s war in Ukraine and its consequences around the world
Scots outraged by rising food and heating prices
There are also demonstrations in Scotland against rising food and energy prices. Trade unions staged protests across the UK to protest the rising cost of living. Brexit has caused prices to rise in many areas of life. The war in Ukraine is expected to exacerbate this effect.
-
Putin’s war in Ukraine and its consequences around the world
How much is this fish now?
The British fear for their favorite national dish. About 380 million servings of fish and chips (Fish & Chips) are eaten annually in the kingdom. However, due to tough sanctions, prices for white fish, vegetable oil and energy are now rising. In February 2022, inflation in the UK compared to the same month last year was 6.2%.
-
Putin’s war in Ukraine and its consequences around the world
War as a chance for the economy?
A trader in Ibafo, Nigeria packages flour for resale. Nigeria has long wanted to reduce its need for food imports and make its economy more resilient in other areas as well. Can the war be regarded as a chance for the economy? Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s richest man, recently opened the country’s largest fertilizer plant and is now hoping for demand.
Author: Claudia Den
