Putin hosted former German chancellor Schröder at home on his birthday, Kremlin says
In short
Russian President Vladimir Putin invited former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder to his home on his birthday, 7 October, after learning from the media that morning that Schröder was in Moscow, the Kremlin said on 8 October. Schröder had come to Moscow on business for the Globus retail chain, whose Russian unit's supervisory board he joined in early October. The Kremlin also published a photo of the two.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin received former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder at his home on 7 October, his birthday, the Kremlin press service said on the evening of 8 October. According to the Kremlin, Putin learned from media reports that morning that Schröder was in Moscow. "The president invited his old friend to his home. Gerhard Schröder was with Vladimir Putin when the head of state celebrated his birthday yesterday," the Kremlin statement said. Putin turned 74. The Kremlin also published a photo of the two; Meduza said it showed them in front of a stove and a samovar. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Schröder had come to Moscow on business for the Globus company, Interfax and Vedomosti reported. Meduza said Russian media had reported his arrival on 7 October, when he met employees of the Globus hypermarket chain; citing RBC, it said Schröder gave a welcome speech and then talked with staff in a closed format. [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]
Globus announced in early October that Schröder had joined the supervisory board of OOO Giperglobus (Гиперглобус), the Russian arm of the German retail chain; Vedomosti said this became known on 2 October and that he will take part in the company's general management and strategic development in Russia. Thomas Bruch (Томас Брух), a beneficiary of Giperglobus and shareholder of Globus Holding GmbH & Co, said Schröder's long involvement in Russia's political, economic and cultural life made him an ideal addition to the board, Interfax reported. Globus was founded in Germany in 1828, operates hypermarkets in Germany, the Czech Republic and Russia, and has been in Russia since 2006; in March it said it intended to resume its previously suspended expansion in Russia, according to Interfax. [ 4 , 7 ]
Meduza noted that Schröder has travelled to Russia and met Putin several times since the start of Russia's full-scale war with Ukraine, and that in May 2026 Putin called him a "preferable" mediator in talks between Russia and Ukraine. Vedomosti recalled that on 5 June presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin had held a one-on-one conversation with Schröder, which Ushakov described as good and friendly. A day earlier, at a meeting with heads of international news agencies at SPIEF-2026, Putin said Schröder was not his "friend" but one of the best German statesmen, according to Vedomosti. [ 6 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The Kremlin made the meeting public and released a photo, and the announcement was carried by official and business outlets. Meduza noted that Schröder has visited Russia and met Putin several times since the start of Russia's full-scale war with Ukraine, and that in May 2026 Putin called him a "preferable" mediator in Russia-Ukraine talks.
Key facts
- Putin invited Gerhard Schröder to his home on his birthday, 7 October, the Kremlin said. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- According to the Kremlin, Putin learned from media reports on the morning of 7 October that Schröder was in Moscow. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Putin turned 74 on 7 October. [ 1 , 7 ]
- Schröder was in Moscow on business for the Globus company. [ 4 , 7 ]
- Schröder joined the supervisory board of OOO Giperglobus (Гиперглобус), the Russian arm of the German retail chain Globus, in early October. [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- The Kremlin published a photo of Putin and Schröder from the birthday. [ 3 , 6 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Kremlin said Putin invited Schröder, whom it called his "old friend", to his home, and that Schröder was with Putin as he celebrated his birthday on 7 October. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Putin learned from the media that Schröder was in Moscow before inviting him. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The Kremlin released a photo of the two from the birthday. [ 3 , 6 , 8 ]
- Schröder recently joined the supervisory board of Giperglobus, the Russian arm of Globus. [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- What Putin and Schröder discussed. The Kremlin statement quoted by the outlets gives no details of any conversation.
- How Putin describes his relationship with Schröder. The Kremlin called Schröder Putin's "old friend", while Vedomosti reported that in June Putin said Schröder was not his "friend" but one of the best German statesmen.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 8 October RIA Novosti and RBC reported, citing the Kremlin, that Putin had invited Schröder to his birthday. [ 1 , 2 ]
- RIA Novosti reported that the Kremlin had published a photo of Putin and Schröder from the birthday. [ 3 ]
- Interfax and Kommersant reported the visit, citing the Kremlin press service. [ 4 , 5 ]
- On 9 October TASS reported the Kremlin's publication of the photo. [ 8 ]