EU rejects Schröder as Ukraine peace mediator

The European Union has firmly rejected the idea of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder serving as a mediator in peace talks over Russia's war in Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday it was clear that President Putin would want to involve the "top lobbyist," according to Tagesschau. Schröder has maintained business ties to Russia and serves on the board of Rosneft, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. The statement underscores EU skepticism toward mediation proposals that could legitimize Russian interests without meaningful concessions on Ukraine's sovereignty.