Merz ‘Deeply Outraged’ by Schröder’s Visit to Putin’s Birthday

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is “deeply outraged” that former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder visited Vladimir Putin in Moscow to celebrate the Russian president’s birthday, a government spokesperson said Friday. The spokesperson said Putin alone bears responsibility for the war in Ukraine, which has caused immense suffering and civilian casualties. Merz considers Schröder’s celebration with Putin “downright immoral.” Schröder, chancellor from 1998 to 2005, has faced years of criticism over his close ties to Putin and Russian businesses. The visit also drew criticism from Schröder’s Social Democratic Party.