Gerhard Schröder was no planted agent, he acted out of a belief in what he did. The german left have always had a strong connection to russia.

I live in northeast Germany and the cost of living increase and industrial cost of the nord stream & oil pipeline changeover has been immense.

I am not advocating a "friendly" relationship w russia but it's also wrong to over simplify the relationships. The nord stream sabotage was a HUGE gut punch for former east german states.