Gerhard Schröder was the Chancellor before. Last week he visited Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Putin is the President of Russia. Putin had his 74th birthday. Schröder and Putin are friends for a long time.
Many politicians criticize this visit. The Chancellor Friedrich Merz is very angry. He thinks the meeting is bad. Because Putin starts a war against Ukraine. Many people die there every day.
Other politicians complain about Gerhard Schröder too. Katrin Göring-Eckardt calls the visit a shame. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann thinks the behavior is bad. She says Schröder does not help the peace.
The German government knows nothing about the trip. Schröder informs nobody before. There are reports about new business. Schröder works for a Russian company.
A politician defends Schröder. Ralf Stegner says people must talk with Putin. Schröder can open doors for talks. Maybe he helps to make peace. Most other politicians do not believe this.
