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Europe

Schröder, Merkel, Fischer? Who will Europe propose as a mediator in Ukraine?

2026-05-14

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[REGNUM] Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a trusted figure from the highest echelons of German politics, former SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, to mediate negotiations with Ukraine. This proposal provoked a predictably negative reaction in Berlin and Brussels.

"If we were to give Russia the right to appoint a negotiator on our behalf, that would not be very wise," said EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels.

Representatives of EU member states expressed similar sentiments. German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius also made it clear that Schröder was out of the question. And Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksiy Makeyev, stated: "Someone who has represented Russia's interests in Germany for years has neither the moral nor the political legitimacy to act as a mediator today."

Finding a negotiator who would be acceptable to both Kyiv and Moscow will be difficult. Last year, US President Donald Trump met first with Vladimir Putin and then with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In November, the White House chief presented a 28-point peace plan, which was well received in Moscow.

However, relations between Washington and Kyiv remain strained under the new American president. Kyiv's generally unstable behavior does nothing to promote progress in this direction. Moreover, Trump is focused on the war with Iran and election issues.

ALTERNATE CANDIDATE #1
"We are ready to assume greater responsibility and are negotiating this with the US and Ukraine," said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. Recently, Berlin, along with Paris and London, attempted to "make a new attempt to return to negotiations," which, according to insiders, leading European governments are preparing for.

A prominent political figure with personal contacts with Putin and Zelensky and respected authority in the rest of Europe could be useful here. Frank-Walter Steinmeier's name was mentioned in German government circles over the weekend.

The German head of state is a former long-serving foreign minister. He has also been accused of being "excessively friendly" toward Russia. Schröder's former aide, like his then-boss, once supported close energy relations between Berlin and Moscow. Two years after Crimea's reunification with Russia, Steinmeier warned NATO against "further escalating tensions with saber-rattling and military rhetoric." So, for the Kyiv regime, Steinmeier is, at the very least, a questionable candidate.

The Federal President's Office declined to comment on the debate. A government spokesperson stated, "We really need to talk about serious proposals that will be accepted by all parties."

ALTERNATE CANDIDATE #2
Angela Merkel, with the support of the CDU/CSU and SPD coalition, pursued a very ambiguous course regarding the conflict in Donbass.

From a Ukrainian perspective, it is considered, in retrospect, too "pro-Russian." From a Russian perspective, the former chancellor's background includes a well-known interview with Die Zeit in December 2022, in which she admitted that the Minsk agreements, to which she also signed, served only one function: to give Ukraine a breathing space so the West could arm it.

Nevertheless, Merkel's name is now also featured in the discussion. Her advantage over Steinmeier is that she no longer holds public office. Merkel is well acquainted with Putin. She even speaks Russian. In Germany, she is accused of allegedly "taking a naive position regarding Nord Stream 2 as a purely economic project without geopolitical consequences. "

Like Schröder and Steinmeier, Merkel has historically supported Germany's traditional policy toward Russia, focusing primarily on mutually beneficial trade relations between Moscow and Berlin. Therefore, she is viewed sullenly not only in Kyiv, but also in Warsaw and the Baltic capitals. On the other hand, pro-Ukrainian politicians, and especially those who have "changed their tune," quickly transforming from Russophiles to Russophobes, are understandably skeptical in Moscow.

Merkel's relationship with current Chancellor Friedrich Merz is strained, to put it mildly, and doesn't speak in her favor. The Chancellor, whose approval ratings are drastically declining, is unlikely to welcome his predecessor into the spotlight. And if her diplomatic efforts are successful, it could spark a nasty nostalgia for the "Merkel mutte" era, which, compared to the current crisis, seems like a golden age to ordinary citizens.

However, Merkel's office responded unequivocally to journalists' questions about her possible role as a negotiator: "There are no requests for the former chancellor."

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CANDIDATES IN GERMANY?
Former senior German diplomat and head of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, warns: "A German could only assume a mediating role in ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine if they were to receive broad support at the European level, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states. Germany must no longer remain alone in this matter," he said.

Among such politicians, Germany, according to some experts, could nominate former federal president Joachim Gauck. He would certainly be well received in Kyiv.

During his presidential term, Gauck, whose father spent several years in Soviet labor camps as a prisoner of war in Hitler's army, repeatedly compared communism and fascism and called on Russia to "repent for its criminal Soviet past." However, for the same reason, Moscow is unlikely to welcome such a negotiator. Moreover, Gauck lacks clout within the executive branch. Therefore, he would be too weak from an operational standpoint.

Another possible candidate is former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. This minister is remembered for radically changing his political positions several times.

Having taken office as an anti-American, he became a staunch Atlanticist during his first trip to Washington. A youthful member of leftist radical groups that advocated for Palestine, Fischer has become an unwavering supporter of Israel in recent years. Although he expressed support for Kyiv after the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, he can hardly be called a veteran of the standoff between Russia and the West. And this somewhat enhances his prospects.

CANDIDATES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö is considered to have the greatest chance of becoming a mediator in the peace talks among other European politicians.

The former Conservative president once interacted with Putin and enjoys authority in EU and NATO circles. He has been calling for Europe to speak directly with Russia for some time now, arguing that European security is part of any solution to Ukraine—anything else would be "absurd."

At the same time, he addressed the Ukrainians with optimistic assurances. This creates an opportunity to talk to both sides.

Another promising candidate, former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, managed to unite right-wing and left-wing populists in Italy and form a caretaker government with them.

He advocated for stronger dialogue with Russia before the conflict, but then supported Ukraine's accession to the EU. This also demonstrates his ability to maneuver. Draghi has economic authority, weight in the EU, and a relatively balanced approach.

The fact that the Russian president has now proposed Schröder as a mediator could be an opportunity for the European Union to get to the negotiating table, something its politicians so desperately seek. However, Kallas's characteristic rhetoric, with its unwavering Russophobia, casts doubt on their ability to seize this opportunity.

Posted by:badanov

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