Former German Chancellor Schröder resigns from Rosneft
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Russia's war against Ukraine - the main events of May 20
According to the message, Schröder said he “can no longer continue in his duties on the board of directors” at Rosneft.
Matthias Warnig, the managing director of Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline, also resigned from Rosneft, citing similar reasons.
Schröder chaired Rosneft’s board of directors since 2007.
Read also: German PM Scholz categorically refuses accepting a Russian victory
In an interview with The New York Times on April 23, Schröder said he would resign from Rosneft only if Russia halts energy exports to Europe.
He added that “a long-term isolation of a country like Russia is economically and politically impossible.”
Read also: European Commission offers Ukraine new macro aid worth up to 9 billion euros
“When this war (against Ukraine) is over, we will have to resume our relationship with Russia; that’s what we always do,” said the former chancellor.
Schröder said he doesn’t intend to distance himself from Putin, and has no reservations about his stance on Russia.
Read also: Zelensky meets with German Bundestag head, President's Office says
On May 19, the German parliament stripped Schröder of some benefits that are ordinarily bestowed on former chancellors. In particular, he was left without an office at the Bundestag and his state-funded staff of assistants.
Read also: German government greenlights supply of Gepard guns to Ukraine
That same day, members of the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution to sanction Schröder if he did not step down from Rosneft.
