Germany considers Steinmeier as EU-Russia negotiator — Spiegel
Photo: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Getty Images)
In Germany, there is discussion of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as a potential EU negotiator to end Russia's war against Ukraine, according to Spiegel.
Germany’s ruling coalition is considering Steinmeier as a candidate to represent the EU in the negotiation process. This issue is expected to be the subject of internal discussions in the near future.
Sources tell the agency that the governing coalition is unlikely to support Vladimir Putin’s proposal to appoint former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as the EU’s representative in the negotiations. The German government does not believe he can handle such a task on his own.
One idea is to create a negotiating duo consisting of the current president and Schröder.
Reaction to Kremlin’s initiatives
The German government currently does not consider Moscow’s proposals to be trustworthy. Officials in Berlin emphasize that Russia has not yet demonstrated any real willingness to compromise.
According to sources, the Kremlin’s statements are part of a series of hybrid attacks aimed at dividing Europe. In their view, Moscow’s willingness to extend the three-day ceasefire could serve as a test of the sincerity of Russia’s intentions.
Background
On May 9, Putin stated that Gerhard Schröder would be the best negotiator for dialogue between Russia and the EU.
At the same time, the Kremlin leader noted that he was ready to negotiate with any European politician, except those who have had time to say all sorts of things about Russia.
Steinmeier
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany (since 2017), has taken an active stance in support of Ukraine. He visited Ukraine in October 2022, signed laws authorizing billions in defense investments, and called for EU unity to defend peace in the face of Russian aggression.
During his visit on October 25, 2022, Steinmeier was forced to spend over an hour in a bomb shelter in the Chernihiv region due to the Russian strikes.
In December 2025, in his Christmas address, Steinmeier called on Europeans to show unity and solidarity with Ukraine, emphasizing the need to defend shared values. Before that, in March of last year, he signed a law that unlocked billions in investments for defense and infrastructure, including significant aid to Ukraine.
Steinmeier Formula
The Steinmeier Formula stipulated that the law on the special status of Donbas shall enter into force at 8 p.m. on the day of voting in the extraordinary local elections in certain districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which were scheduled and conducted in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine and a special law regulating extraordinary local elections in the aforementioned districts.
The special status of Donbas would be in effect temporarily until the day the OSCE revealed its final report on the compliance of the local elections with international standards, as well as with Ukrainian legislation.
The law will remain in effect on a permanent basis after the elections are recognized as democratic.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Ukraine did not support Gerhard Schröder’s candidacy as a mediator in the negotiations between the EU and Russia aimed at ending the war.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, noted that Schröder had long served as a lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies.
