EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas ruled out former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a mediator in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine on Monday [1].

The rejection highlights the deep divide over who can realistically serve as a neutral party in the conflict. Because Schröder maintains close ties to the Kremlin, his appointment would likely be viewed as a concession to Moscow rather than a step toward impartial diplomacy.

Kallas said she rejects the idea of Schröder representing Europe in these negotiations [2]. The EU official said that the former chancellor lacks the necessary neutrality to facilitate a fair agreement between the warring nations.

"He would be sitting on both sides of the table," Kallas said [1].

The statement comes amid ongoing efforts to identify a diplomatic bridge that both Kyiv and Moscow would trust. Kallas said that Schröder's history and current associations make him unsuitable for the role, a position that underscores the EU's commitment to a mediator without conflicting interests.

Schröder had been suggested as a potential negotiator, but Kallas said that such a proposal is unacceptable from the European perspective [2]. The diplomat said that any representative of Europe must be able to advocate for peace without being compromised by external loyalties.

“"He would be sitting on both sides of the table."”

This move signals a hardening of the EU's stance against allowing individuals with strong ties to the Russian government to lead diplomatic efforts. By explicitly rejecting Schröder, Kallas is prioritizing perceived neutrality and moral authority over the pragmatic possibility of using a former head of state who maintains a direct line to Vladimir Putin.