MOSCOW: Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder went to Vladimir Putin's home on the Russian president's 74th birthday, the Kremlin said Thursday.
Schroeder, 82, has been criticised and sanctioned for maintaining his close ties to the Russian leader after the war with Ukraine started.
"Yesterday morning, Mr Putin found out from the media that Gerhard Schroeder was in Moscow on business. The president invited his old friend to join him," the Kremlin said on Telegram.
Photos showing the two men shaking hands were released by the Kremlin. Wednesday was Putin's 74th birthday.
