Gerhard Schröder faces criticism after attending Putin’s birthday in Moscow
Gerhard Schröder visited a Hyperglobus supermarket in western Moscow, where employees greeted him with applause. He later attended President Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday celebration at the Kremlin residence, shaking hands and smiling with the Russian leader. The visit has drawn sharp condemnation from members of the CDU, the Grünen and the SPD, with several politicians calling the trip a betrayal of Europe. Critics note the contrast between the celebration and civilian casualties in Ukraine, while Schröder defended his presence by citing his role on the board of the Russian arm of German retailer Globus.
How this was covered
- Left-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
Why it matters
The episode highlights ongoing controversy over a former German leader’s business and personal ties to Russia amid the Ukraine war.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage stresses outrage and moral condemnation of Schröder’s attendance, while centrist and right-leaning outlets treat the visit as a factual event, noting the invitation and business ties and only briefly mentioning criticism.
LEFT
Frames Schröder’s attendance as a scandal that provokes outrage and betrayal within Germany.
CENTER
Frames the visit as a straightforward factual report of the Kremlin invitation and Schröder’s business trip.
RIGHT
Frames the visit as a controversial but factual occurrence, highlighting criticism from German officials.
The left emphasises
- ‘outrage’ within the SPD
- ‘shame’, ‘most audacious retiree’, ‘betrayal of Europe’
- contrast with civilian casualties in Ukraine
The right emphasises
- German leaders like Merz ‘deeply outraged’
- Putin solely responsible for the war in Ukraine
- Schröder’s contacts are controversial after the invasion
Possibly left out
- Left-leaning coverage reports children killed by Russian strikes, absent from right-leaning coverage
How this story developed
- Sep 1 Russia multiplies jet-powered Shahed drone strikes fivefold in one month
- Sep 24 Reports allege that corporate managers pressured staff to vote for United Russia, suggesting coercion in the electoral process.
- Sep 26 President Trump publicly urged Ukraine to negotiate a settlement with Russia.
- Sep 28 Poland’s Government Security Center warned residents of Lublin Voivodeship of a possible air attack following a Russian strike on western Ukraine, while Polish air forces began patrolling national airspace.
- Oct 2 Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov asked President Putin to audit the North Caucasus election results.
- Oct 3 A new drone impact occurred near the Yahodyn crossing.
- Oct 3 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told a parliamentary panel that Russia will take about 70,000 Indian skilled workers this year as the two countries push to broaden trade, energy cooperation and diplomatic efforts on Ukraine.
- Oct 4 President Wolodymyr Selenskyj said the United States is preparing fresh trilateral discussions with Russia and Ukraine, aiming for a meeting before October ends.
- Oct 6 The raid reached the Volodarsk oil depot near Moscow, igniting a fire.
- Oct 7 Gerhard Schröder visited a Hyperglobus supermarket in western Moscow after joining the board of the chain’s operating company, where staff greeted him with applause.
- Oct 8 Ukraine’s General Staff released an updated casualty figure of 1,545,950 Russian personnel losses.
- Oct 8 The United States has publicly pushed for technical trilateral talks with Russia by the end of October.
- Oct 9 India shifted from a labor‑exchange agreement with Russia to actively mediating a cease‑fire between Russia and Ukraine.
- Oct 9 Schröder attended Putin’s birthday celebration at the Kremlin residence.
Related stories
44 in this thread