The press service of the Kremlin reported on the evening of October 8 that Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his birthday in the company of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, writes [Meduza](https://meduza.io/news/2026/10/08/putin-otmetil-den-rozhdeniya-v-kompanii-gerharda-shredera-kreml-opublikoval-ih-fotografiyu-na-fone-pechi-i-samovara). According to the Kremlin, on the morning of October 7, Putin "learned from media reports" about Schröder's arrival in Moscow, after which he invited him to his home. > "The president invited his old friend to his home. Gerhard Schröder was with Vladimir Putin when the head of state celebrated his birthday yesterday," the Kremlin's statement said. Along with the announcement, the press service published a joint photograph of Putin and Schröder, taken in an interior featuring a stove and a samovar. Russian media reported on the former German chancellor's visit to Moscow on October 7. On that day, Schröder met with employees of the Globus hypermarket chain, of which he joined the supervisory board at the beginning of October. According to RBC, after his welcoming speech, he continued to communicate with employees in a closed format. Since the beginning of the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, Schröder has repeatedly visited Russia and met with Vladimir Putin. Despite the end of his political career, he continues to maintain personal contacts with the Russian president. In May 2026, Putin referred to Schröder as a "preferred" mediator in potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
