Poll: Most Germans view Schröder's visit to Putin as inappropriate

A survey in Germany shows that most people disapprove of former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder's visit to Russian president Vladimir Putin to mark Putin's birthday. The result points to broad public discomfort at home, at a time when any meeting with the Russian leader is politically sensitive because of Russia's war against Ukraine.

Survey findings

The poll was carried out by the research firm YouGov for the dpa news agency. It covered 1,219 people across Germany and was conducted on Friday. The survey is described as representative.

According to the results, 56% of respondents said it was inappropriate for a former chancellor to accept the invitation. A quarter regarded the visit as appropriate, while one-fifth were undecided or did not answer.

Criticism from Kyiv and Berlin

Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, condemned the meeting in comments released on Saturday. He said it was disgusting that a former chancellor so warmly embraces a war criminal.

Current German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also sharply criticised Schröder for the visit.

Background

The Kremlin earlier announced that Putin had celebrated his 74th birthday in Schröder's company. Schröder was in Moscow on 7 October to visit a Globus hypermarket in Russia, following his appointment to the supervisory board of Hyperglobus.