An ‘old friend,’ a stove, and a samovar. The Kremlin shares a portrait of Putin’s birthday with former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his birthday with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, his “old friend,” the Kremlin press office said on the evening of October 8.
The Kremlin said Putin “learned from media reports” on the morning of October 7 that Schröder had arrived in Moscow.
“The president invited his old friend to his home. Gerhard Schröder was with Vladimir Putin yesterday as the head of state celebrated his birthday,” the statement said.
The Kremlin press office also published a photograph of the two together.
Russian media reported Schröder’s arrival in Moscow on October 7. He met with employees of the Globus hypermarket chain, whose supervisory board he joined in early October. RBC reported that Schröder gave a welcome speech, then went to speak with employees “behind closed doors.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Schröder has visited Russia and met with Putin several times. In May 2026, Putin called Schröder his “preferred” mediator for talks between Russia and Ukraine.
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