Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder told ABC, a Spanish newspaper, that Kyiv cannot reclaim Crimea by force. He questioned the feasibility of Zelensky’s plan, saying the President’s idea would not succeed militarily.
Schröder commented on Zelensky’s public appeal to Ukrainians, in which the president pledged to restore control over the Black and Azov Seas and to reestablish Ukrainian governance in the Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, as well as to reintegrate territories from the Serpent Island to the Kerch Strait. Schröder suggested that the Crimean question would be resolved in time, not immediately, and indicated it might be settled by a future generation rather than in a single decisive moment. He referenced the historical move that integrated Crimea into the Ukrainian SSR, noting it was tied to a decision by Nikita Khrushchev that the USSR would outlive the church, and he warned against oversimplifying the issue.
Earlier, Schröder had called Zelensky’s approach to forcibly reclaiming Crimea “absurd” in a separate interview, arguing that it is unlikely the Russian leadership would yield Crimea again. He pointed out that, aside from a Tatаr minority, the region remains heavily tethered to Russian identity.
Schröder and Russia
Schröder has long-standing ties to Russia, having chaired the board of Rosneft from 2017 to 2022. He holds honorary positions in Russian institutions and has been described as a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and as an honorary doctor at Saint Petersburg University. He also serves as the chair of the Nord Stream AG Shareholders Committee.
Reports from early August indicated Schröder met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The meeting was framed as a candid exchange about the European energy situation and the broader state of affairs, with Schröder seeking clarity on Russia’s perspective on the developing crisis and energy concerns facing Europe. Observers noted that European energy markets had been affected, with gas supplies to the continent fluctuating notably in the wake of sanctions.
Following the talks, Schröder suggested that Ukraine and Russia might reach a negotiated settlement, citing a previously discussed path that had gained attention during talks in Istanbul. He emphasized that the Kremlin appeared open to a negotiated end to the conflict, and he recalled that such negotiations had previously been pursued in different formats and at different times.
His aides and supporters have faced internal party scrutiny, as questions were raised about his closeness to Moscow after the start of the Russian operation in Ukraine. Critics argued that Schröder should have taken a clearer distance from Russia, while supporters noted his extensive experience in European energy negotiations and his role in shaping dialogue with Russian leadership.
In response to the criticism, Schröder asserted that Russia was prepared to engage with Ukraine to resolve hostilities on Ukrainian soil, while noting that EU capitals had not prioritized similar engagement. He stressed that his own mediation should not be blocked by political disagreements, and he underscored his belief that it remains possible to pursue lawful negotiations without compromising personal safety or family interests. He also noted that his relationship with the Kremlin should not be interpreted as a rupture, advocating continued channels for dialogue rather than severance.