Ex-German Chancellor Schroeder Celebrates Birthday with Putin in St. Petersburg
BERLIN--Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder celebrated his 70th birthday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Monday evening, as the U.S. and European Union stepped up sanctions against Moscow over its handling of the Ukraine crisis.
The meeting took place during a birthday reception organized by Mr. Schroeder's employer Nord Stream AG, a pipeline operator controlled by Russian gas giant OAO Gazprom.
"This was a private birthday reception in St. Petersburg and Mr. Putin appeared in the course of the evening and gave a few words," said Nord Stream spokesman Ulrich Lissek. He declined to comment on the content of the Russian president's speech.
Mr. Schroeder's office couldn't be reached to comment.
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