ARCHIV - 01.07.2020, Berlin: Gerhard Schröder, ehemaliger Bundeskanzler, wartet auf den Beginn der Anhörung im Wirtschaftsausschuss des Bundestags zum Pipeline-Projekt Nord Stream 2 im Sitzungssaal. (zu dpa "Gaskrise: Altkanzler Schröder für Inbetriebnahme von Nord Stream 2") Foto: Kay Nietfeld/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj sharply criticizes former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. “It’s just disgusting when former leaders of large states with European values ​​work for Russia, which is at war against these values,” he said in a video address.

In an interview with “Stern” and RTL, Schröder had previously spoken of “good news”: “The Kremlin wants a negotiated solution,” said the ex-Chancellor, who visited Moscow last week. A first success was the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain. “Perhaps this can slowly be expanded into a truce.”

The Ukrainian leadership believes statements by former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder that Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is ready for peace negotiations to be implausible. “There is nothing more cynical than the claims by Putin supporters that Russia is ready to negotiate,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on his Twitter channel on Wednesday.

In the interview, Schröder had also spoken out in favor of using the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. He held the Siemens group primarily responsible for the current lack of gas deliveries from Russia via the existing Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Schröder is the chairman of the board of directors of the Nord Stream 2 operator.