Former German Chancellor Schroeder Celebrates Putin's Birthday at President's Home

By Reuters Oct. 9, 2026 news_kremlin / Telegram Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder helped celebrate Russian President Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday at the leader's home, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Pictures posted on Telegram showed Schroeder and Putin smiling broadly and shaking hands, with an old-style stove and a Russian samovar used to boil water for tea in the background. "Vladimir Putin found out from the morning news the day before that Gerhard Schroeder was in Moscow and had come on business for the company Globus," the Kremlin said on Telegram. "The president invited his old friend to his home. Gerhard Schroeder was with Vladimir Putin when the head of state celebrated his birthday yesterday." Schroeder, who served as chancellor from 1998 to 2005, recently joined the supervisory board of Russian supermarket chain Hyperglobus. He visited one of its Moscow stores on Wednesday and was greeted with applause from employees, Russian TV footage showed. Schroeder has faced criticism, notably in Germany, over his links to Russian business and Putin, ties that have persisted despite Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent waves of Western sanctions. Putin suggested in May that Schroeder could represent European countries in peace talks to settle the conflict. European foreign ministers rejected the notion of any such role for Schroeder. Read more about: Putin Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Prigozhin Met Putin in Person After Failed Mutiny, Kremlin Confirms Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wagner commanders who met with Putin were ready to "continue fighting for the motherland." 2 Min read BRICS Summit To Be 'Physical' Despite Putin Warrant — South Africa As a member of the ICC, South Africa would be expected to arrest Vladimir Putin if he sets foot in the country. 1 Min read Wagner Boss ‘Gone off the Rails’ Over Money — Russian TV "Prigozhin has gone off the rails because of big money," Dmitry Kiselev, one of the main faces of the Russian propaganda machine, said on TV Sunday. 2 Min read South Africa's Ramaphosa Tells Putin Ukraine 'War Must Be Settled' His delegation put forward a set of principles that the Kremlin deemed "very difficult to implement." 4 Min read