Lavrov Reveals the Noise Following Putin's Statement

Russian President Vladimir Putin tested the political maturity of Europeans when he named former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as the preferred negotiator for dialogue between Moscow and Europe, stated Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“President Putin tested the political maturity and vigilance of Europeans, I would say, when he answered a question during a press conference on the evening of May 9, stating that the former chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany could be the representative of Europeans in negotiations with Russia,” the minister told reporters.

As Lavrov noted, there was an uproar in Europe after the Russian leader’s statements, but some, including in Germany, did not reject such an opportunity. “After our president's answer, a very amusing discussion occurred,” he emphasized.