Foreign ministers meet to discuss latest on Ukraine, the Middle East and the western Balkans German Europe minister Gunther Krichbaum has just shot down Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former pro-Russian German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could act as a mediator on Ukraine. Schröder, 82, has remained close to Putin long after leaving office, standing apart from most western leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. “As you know, a mediator must be accepted by both sides, and this seems to