Photos of Vladimir Putin and Gerhard Schroeder sharing an embrace have caused the German government to quickly distance itself from the former Chancellor.
Mr Schroeder was seen enjoying a hug from the Russian President during celebrations for his 70th birthday at a party in St Petersburg outside the Yusupov Palace, according to German media reports.
"He does not represent the German government," a senior government official said when asked about the pictures of Mr Schroeder's meeting with Mr Putin. "It should be clear to everyone that Mr Schroeder left active politics some time ago."
His office had no comment to make on the pictures.
The publication of the images comes at a somewhat inopportune moment as tensions between the West and Russia continue to build over the Ukraine crisis.
Germany, which relies heavily on Russia for natural gas supplies, has been trying to defuse tensions over Ukraine and is seen in the West as reluctant to ratchet up sanctions against Moscow.
Clashes in eastern Ukraine
Clashes in eastern Ukraine
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1/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Ukraine 'Azov' batallion soldiers capture pro-Russian activists after taking control over city of Mariupol in Donetsk
EPA
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2/79 Ukraine crisis: Kiev
Pro-Ukrainian supporters stand in front of the Russian embassy during a protest in Kiev
EPA
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3/79 Ukraine crisis: Kiev
Activists of Maidan self-defense and Right Sector ultra-nationalist organization attend a commemoration ceremony devoted for Ukrainian soldiers killed when a military cargo plane was shot down
EPA
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4/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
An armed Ukrainian soldier looks around while guarding at a checkpoint not far of Slavyansk
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5/79 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk
An Orthodox priest holds a service during a funeral ceremony in front of the local administration building in Kramatorsk for Viktor Gagulin, a Pro-Russian supporter, who was killed during an anti terrorist operation, Kramatorsk
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6/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Awaiting of pro-Russian separatists is ongoing at the government building seized by Russian supporters in Donetsk
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7/79 Ukraine crisis: Odessa
A woman bearing flowers during the rally to mourn for victims of clashes in Odessa, outside Moscow's Kremlin
AP
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8/79 Ukraine crisis: Odessa
Pro-Russian activists mourn during the funeral of Vyacheslav Markin, the deputy of the city regional council and leader of the pro-Russian opposition, who perished during a clash between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian activists
AFP
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9/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian militants escort a blindfolded man outside the regional state building they seized
AFP
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10/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian Cossacks eat a dinner outside the regional administration building in Donetsk
AP
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11/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
Ukrainian soldiers stand guard at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk
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12/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
A Ukrainian soldier looks on at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk
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13/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian protesters try to destroy a Ukraine national flag outside the regional prosecutor's office in Donetsk
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14/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian separatists seize the Prosecution Office in Donetsk
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15/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
Ukrainian soldiers stand near a tank at a checkpoint near the south eastern Ukrainain city of Slavyansk
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16/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
Ukrainian soldiers guard a roadblock along the highway near Slavyansk
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17/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Ukrainian supporters attending a rally in Donetsk. Around 1,000 people took part in a march for supporting of a Single Ukraine and were attacked by pro-Russian protesters
EPA
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18/79 Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka
A pro-Russian armed man poses for a photograph with a child as he stands guard outside a regional administration building seized in the night by pro-Russian separatists
AFP/Getty
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19/79 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk
Pro-Russian Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleg Tsarev (2-L) of the 'Party of Regions' party is accompanied by security personnel as he arrives to speak to journalists during a press briefing in Slaviansk
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20/79 Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk
A man reacts near a coffin containing the body of man killed in a gunfight, during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk
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21/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
A masked man holds a gun as as other armed people stand near tanks in Slaviansk
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22/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
An Orthodox icon is displayed on barricades in front of a city parliament in Slovyansk
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23/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
Men wearing military fatigues ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
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24/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
Armed men wearing military fatigues gather by Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) as they stand guard outside the regional state building seized by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
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25/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
Masked pro-Russian gunmen attack a photojournalist near combat vehicles flying a Russian flag, in downtown of Slovyansk
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26/79 Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk
Men wearing military fatigues sit by a Russian flag and a white flag reading "People's volunteer corps of Donetsk" as they ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
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27/79 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk
Ukrainian soldiers clash with pro-Russia protesters in a field near Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine
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28/79 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk
Ukrainian General Genady Krutov (C) talks to journalists in front of an Ukrainian airbase in Kramatorsk
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29/79 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk
A woman wearing a national flower crown looks back as she attends a pro-Ukrainian rally in Luhansk
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30/79 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk
Pro-Russia activists throw stones as they storm the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk
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31/79 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk
Pro-Russian men storm a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka
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32/79 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk
Masked pro-Russian men attack British photojournalist Frederick Paxton during the mass storming of a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka
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33/79 Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk
Ukrainian police try to stop pro-Russia activists from storming the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk
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34/79 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk
A pro-Russian fighter guards a barricade bearing the Russian flag on the road leading to the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
AFP/Getty
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35/79 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk
Armed pro-Russia protesters prepare for the battle with Ukrainian police special team on the outskirts the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk
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36/79 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk
Pro-Russian activists escort a man (unseen) who they say is a provocateur outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk
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37/79 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk
Pro-Russia supporters surround a man who they say is a provocateur (C) outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk
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38/79 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk
Armed pro-Russian supporters carry an Eastern Orthodox icon of Mary Magdalene outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk
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39/79 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk
Pro-Russian activists occupy the police station carrying riot shields as people watch on, in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk
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40/79 Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk, near Slovyansk
The interior minister overnight reported an attack on a police in the city of Kramatorsk, close to the city of Slovyansk
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41/79 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk
A pro-Russian gunman stands guard at a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk
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42/79 Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk
A pro-Russian gunman carries a mattress in a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk
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43/79 Ukraine crisis: Lugansk
A pro-Russian supporter flashes the 'V'-sign during a rally in front of the security service building occupied by Pro-Russian activists in Lugansk
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44/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
Pro-Russian supporters clash with supporters of Single Ukraine in downtown Kharkiv
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45/79 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk
An effigy depicting Ukrainian politician and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko is hanged on a advertisement board in front of the offices of the SBU state security service in Luhansk
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46/79 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk
Pro-Russian protesters set a barbed wire on a barricade outside the SBU state security service in Luhansk
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47/79 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk
A masked pro-Russian activist stands in front of barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk
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48/79 Ukraine crisis: Luhansk
Pro-Russian separatists reinforced barricades around the state security building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk and called on President Vladimir Putin for help after the government warned it could use force to restore order
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49/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
A Pro-Russian activist wears a hand-made mask behind a barricade in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk
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50/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
Pro-Russian protesters hold placards reading 'Freedom for detained heroes!' during a rally near the district court in Kharkiv
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51/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
Policemen leave their position from the regional administration building in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv
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52/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally near the district court in Kharkiv. Meanwhile, Russia rejected accusations that it was massing troops for an invasion of Ukraine and accused the West of making 'baseless' claims and waging an anti-Russian campaign
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53/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
A view of the interior of the Kharkiv regional state administration chancery after being destroyed by pro-Russian protesters. Ukrainian policemen were injured as a result of an operation to free the administration building from pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine's acting president said on April 8 he would treat Russian separatists who have seized buildings in the east of the country as "terrorists" who will be prosecuted with the full force of the law
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54/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
Pro-Russian protesters throw stones at an Interior Ministry bus near the regional administration building in Kharkiv. Ukrainian police cleared pro-Moscow protesters from a regional administration building in a lightning night-time operation, but others held out in two more eastern cities in what Kiev says is a Russian-led plan to dismember the country. Shots were fired, a grenade thrown and 70 people detained as officers ended the occupation in the city of Kharkiv during an 18 minute "anti-terrorism" action
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55/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
Armed men in masks, representing Ukrainian special forces, stand guard outside the regional administration building in Kharkiv
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56/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
Pro-Russian protesters burn tires near of a regional administration building after police cleared it in Kharkiv. Protesters are demanding a referendum on the status of the Kharkiv region, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea
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57/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
Pro-Russian activists hold red flags with the communist hammer and sickle and the soviet "USSR" initals during a rally at the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv
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58/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
Pro-Russian protesters (L) clash with activists (R) supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine as Interior Ministry members (C) attempt to break them apart during rallies in the eastern city of Kharkiv
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59/79 Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv
Pro-Russian protesters and police officers surround a group of around fifteen ultra-nationalist Right Sector group members (C) during a rally in Kharkiv. Several hundred pro-Russian protesters surrounded the group of ultra-nationalists and forced them to march down a steep hill on their knees in what appeared to be a humiliation ritual that drew no police response during the rally in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv
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60/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
A pro-Russian protester holds a placard bearing a crossed out "Nato" during a rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk
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61/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian protesters wave Russian flags during their rally in downtown Donetsk
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62/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian activists guard a barricade set at the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk
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63/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Ukraine's embattled prime minister accused Russia of trying to "dismember" his country by plotting seizures of government buildings in eastern regions that are seeking to break away from Kiev
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64/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian activists outside the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk
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65/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Protesters are calling for former President Yanukovych to return to Ukraine and to hold a referendum on the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea
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66/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian protesters stand next to a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk. According to reports, pro-Russian demonstrators stormed the administration building in Donetsk
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67/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Protesters set up a barricade inside an occupied regional administration building in Donetsk
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68/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
A pro-Russia protester sets on fire an effigy depicting Stepan Bandera, one of the founders of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, during a rally in Donetsk
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69/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian masked activist waves a Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, where a large group of people surged into the provincial government building and smashed windows. A gathering of several hundred, many of them waving Russian flags, then listened to speeches delivered from a balcony emblazoned with a banner reading a "Donetsk Republic"
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70/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian activists hold a huge Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine
AP
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71/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian activists hold a rally in front of Ukraine's regional security service of Ukraine in Lugansk
Getty Images
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72/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building
Getty Images
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73/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian activists evacuate a wounded following clashes with anti-riot forces after storming the Regional Security Service of Ukraine
Getty Images
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74/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they try to occupy a regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine
EPA
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75/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Around 100 pro-Russian protesters stormed the regional government building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk
Reuters
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76/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
People clash with police at the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine
AP
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77/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally in Odessa, Ukraine
EPA
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78/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
A pro-Russian protester waves a Russian flag behind policemen near the regional government building in Donetsk
Reuters
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79/79 Ukraine crisis: Donetsk
Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk
Getty Images
The European Union on Tuesday imposed asset freezes and travel bans on 15 Russians and Ukrainians. The US had also imposed new sanctions on allies of Mr Putin on Monday.
Mr Schroeder faced heavy criticism from German media on Tuesday, who condemned the former Social Democrat for not keeping a distance when a government including the SPD was trying to "stop his friend Vladimir from pursuing power-hungry policies".
"Schroeder celebrates his birthday with Putin and makes Germany's foreign policy look absurd," wrote Roland Nelles in a commentary for Der Spiegel magazine's online edition, which published a series of pictures showing Mr Schroeder first waiting for Mr Putin's car to arrive and embracing the Russian president.
Gerda Hasselfeldt, parliamentary leader of the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) which is aligned with Merkel's conservatives, said: "I found the pictures alienating. I hope he used the opportunity to talk to him about the problems."
Andreas Schockenhoff, deputy parliamentary floor leader for Merkel's party, said Schroeder risked undermining the German government as well as his own protege, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
"The chancellor and foreign minister have tried to help stabilise Ukraine for weeks and keep the EU together while Putin is trying to destabilise Ukraine and divide the EU," he said. "Pictures like this play into the hands of Putin's propaganda."
Mr Schroeder, chancellor from 1998-2005, has come under fire previously for his close relations with Mr Putin. Schroeder became the board chairman of a German-Russian pipeline joint venture with gas monopoly Gazprom Nord Stream after leaving office.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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