Media: Former German chancellor Schröder, touted as possible EU negotiator with Russia, reportedly spotted in Moscow

Germany's former chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who is regarded as a personal friend of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, is currently visiting the Russian capital, Moscow.

n-tv correspondent Rainer Munz spotted Schröder at the Kempinski hotel.

Schröder, the 82-year-old former leader of the Social Democratic Party, is regarded as a personal friend of the Kremlin leader. He continued to work for Russian energy companies even after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The St Petersburg International Economic Forum is reportedly opening on 3 June. Schröder may have travelled to Russia to attend the event.

Putin floated Schröder as a possible negotiator to bring the European side into talks on ending the war, a proposal rejected by Ukraine.

Berlin also does not regard Putin's proposal on Schröder as EU negotiator with Russia as serious and sees it as an attempt to sow division in Europe and among German politicians.

Oleksii Makeiev, Ukraine's Ambassador to Germany, said someone who had represented Russian interests in Germany for years has "neither the moral nor political legitimacy to act as a mediator today".