German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) walk over a bridge in the yard of Schloss Gottorf Palace in the northern German town of Schleswig December 21, 2004. Putin welcomed proposals for Germany and the European Union to help resolve the conflict in Chechnya as he arrived in Germany on Monday for two days of talks with Chancellor Schroeder. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay WR/JOH