Putin celebrates birthday with former German Chancellor Schröder

Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his birthday on October 7 with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, whom the Kremlin calls the president's "old friend." The Kremlin press office announced this on the evening of October 8. Schröder is one of the few former Western leaders who has kept up contacts with Moscow during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to the Kremlin statement, Putin learned from media reports on the morning of October 7 that Schröder had arrived in Moscow. The president then invited his old friend to his home. The statement says Schröder was with Putin on the day the head of state celebrated his birthday. The press office also published a photograph of the two men.

Visit to Moscow

Russian media reported Schröder's arrival in Moscow on October 7. The former chancellor met employees of the Globus hypermarket chain, whose supervisory board he joined in early October. RBC, a Russian news outlet, reported that Schröder gave a welcome speech and then went to speak with staff behind closed doors.

Earlier contacts

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Schröder has visited Russia several times and met with Putin. In May 2026, Putin called Schröder his "preferred" mediator for talks between Russia and Ukraine.