Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder celebrated Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday at the Russian leader’s home in Moscow. The Kremlin reported that Putin discovered Schröder was in the country through morning news reports and invited his longtime friend over, publishing photographs of the two men standing beside a traditional Russian stove.
Schröder Visits Moscow For Russian Leader’s 74th Birthday
Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his 74th birthday on October 7 with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder at the leader’s home. The Kremlin stated that the Russian president learned from media reports that morning that Schröder was in the capital, prompting the invitation.
Photographs released by the Kremlin on Telegram and the Max platform showed the two men smiling and clasping hands in front of an old-style stove. The rustic interior featured a traditional Russian samovar used for boiling tea water, alongside rocking-horse figurines and felt boots decorating the stove. While the official announcements did not specify the exact venue, analysts noted that similar wooden cottages and buildings characterize Putin’s Valdai residence.
The president invited his old friend to his home.
The Kremlin, via official statement
Retail Board Appointment Brings Former Leader to Russia
The 82-year-old former German leader traveled to Moscow after being appointed to the supervisory board of Hyperglobus. Schröder’s journey to Russia was officially tied to corporate business rather than diplomacy. The retail entity operates hypermarkets in Russia that became independent from the German holding company Globus Holding last year.
Political Backlash Follows Longstanding Kremlin Ties
Schröder served as chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 and led the center-left Social Democratic Party from 1999 to 2004. Ever since leaving public office, he has maintained close personal contact with Putin while working for Russian energy firms including Rosneft and Nord Stream.
Those ties have drawn continuous criticism in Germany, particularly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Domestic backlash intensified after his latest corporate appointment. Although members of his own party have previously moved to expel him, Schröder has survived those disciplinary efforts, even as his taxpayer-financed Berlin office remains closed due to his continued involvement with Russian energy interests.
In May 2026, Putin proposed naming the former German chancellor as a preferred mediator to represent European countries in potential peace negotiations aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. That diplomatic suggestion faced swift rejection from European Union foreign ministers, as well as explicit opposition from Ukrainian officials who dismissed the proposed role entirely.