EU's Kallas rejects Putin's suggestion of Schroeder as European negotiator for Russia talks

​European Union ​foreign policy chief ‌Kaja Kallas ​on Monday rejected a suggestion ‌by Russian President Vladimir Putin that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could represent ‌Europe in future talks ‌with Moscow on European security arrangements.

"If we give the right to Russia ⁠to ​appoint ⁠a negotiator on our behalf, you know, ⁠that would not be very wise," ​Kallas told reporters as she arrived ⁠for a meeting of EU ⁠foreign ​ministers in Brussels.

As Schroder had lobbied for Russian state ⁠companies, "he would be sitting on both sides ⁠of ⁠the table," Kallas said.