German Media: Putin Nominates Former German Chancellor Schröder to Mediate Talks, Hinting at End of Russia-Ukraine War

After the Victory Day parade commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany, President Putin made several noteworthy remarks to journalists, unusually suggesting that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is nearing its end. He expressed hope for former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to mediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and also stated his willingness to transport and store Iran’s enriched uranium.

Following the Russian WWII Victory Day parade, on Saturday, May 9, President Putin hinted in a press conference that the war’s conclusion would not be delayed much longer, saying, "I believe this matter is approaching its end."

Putin made these comments in response to a journalist's question about whether Western aid to Ukraine has gone too far. He said, "They have gradually escalated their confrontation with Russia, and it continues to this day. I believe it is heading toward an end, but this remains a very serious matter."

Putin Nominates Schröder to Mediate Peace Talks

Before marking the 81st anniversary of the victory over fascism in Europe, U.S. President Trump announced on Friday, May 8, that Washington had successfully brokered a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine over the weekend.

A day earlier, European Council President António Costa stated that the EU was ready to hold separate talks with both Russia and Ukraine when the time is right.

In the press conference, when asked who he considered the best EU figure to lead ceasefire negotiations, Putin specifically named Gerhard Schröder, former Chancellor of Germany.

Schröder, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), served as Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 and is one of the few close allies of Putin among Western leaders. The two have maintained a long-standing personal relationship. Schröder previously held high-paying positions in several Russian energy companies, which has drawn sharp criticism against the German former chancellor.

Putin stated that he is prepared to engage in direct peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, provided both sides first agree on a lasting peace agreement.

What else did Putin mention?

Putin accused the EU of continuously attempting to escalate the conflict, warning, "This game will cost you dearly."

Ukraine continues to receive strong support from Europe, especially in military equipment and technical assistance. Data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy shows that although the Trump administration reduced military aid to Ukraine nearly to zero in 2025, overall military funding for Ukraine did not significantly decline—because EU countries increased their aid by 67%, nearly compensating for the shortfall, with Germany and the UK bearing the bulk of the burden.

The Russian president also addressed the situation in Iran, expressing hope that the conflict there could end soon. However, he cautioned that if the war cannot be resolved, ultimately no one will win—everyone will be a loser.

The commemoration parade marking the defeat of fascist Germany on Saturday was smaller than previous years, attended mainly by leaders of Russia’s closest allies. Moreover, no military hardware was displayed during the parade—the first time in nearly two decades.

Russia Can Store Iran’s Enriched Uranium

In the press conference, Putin also said that as part of a deal aimed at ending the Iran conflict, Russia is ready to transport and store Iran’s enriched uranium if necessary. He noted that Russia had previously transported enriched uranium from Iran in 2015 and could "perform this duty again."

Putin mentioned that all parties involved—Iran, the United States, and Israel—had previously agreed to remove Iran’s enriched uranium from the country. He then added, "But later, the U.S. stance became tougher, demanding that the enriched uranium be sent to the United States. Subsequently, Iran also adopted a more hardline position."

Source: DW

Original Article: toutiao.com/article/1864856474189961/

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