The head of the German navy has resigned after his controversial statements about the Ukraine conflict. Schönbach was relieved of his duties “with immediate effect”. The Ukrainian ambassador in Germany described the resignation as insufficient.
The head of the German Navy, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach, submitted his resignation to Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) and the minister accepted it, said a spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Defense. The Navy’s press office based in Rostock circulated a statement by the Vice Admiral: “The thoughtless statements I made in India about security and military policy are increasingly weighing on my office,” Schönbach said in explaining his resignation. “In order to take further damage from the German Navy, the Bundeswehr, but above all from the Federal Republic of Germany, I consider this step to be necessary.”
The German Navy is now to be led by his deputy, Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet, Rear Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, until a decision is made on Schönbach’s successor, the statement said.
The representatives of the Defense Committee of the Bundestag were informed of Schönbach’s decision in the evening, as the ministry spokesman said.
Respect for Vladimir Putin
Schönbach commented on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine during a visit to India on Friday. He described the invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine, feared by western states, as “nonsense”, according to a video published on the Internet. What Russian President Vladimir Putin really wants is “respect on an equal footing,” said the vice admiral. “It’s easy to give him the respect he wants – and probably deserves.”
Schönbach also commented on the Ukrainian Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014. “The Crimean peninsula is lost, it will never return,” said Schönbach.
Andriy Melnyk, Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, told the “world that his country welcomes the fact that Mr. Schönbach has offered his resignation.” Schönbach’s statements “sent the entire Ukrainian public into deep shock.”
Melnyk drew a comparison with the Nazi era: “With this condescending attitude, the Ukrainians unconsciously felt reminded of the horrors of the Nazi occupation, when the Ukrainians were treated as subhuman,” he said. Melnyk also spoke of a “cynical trivialization of the illegal occupation of Crimea” and a haughty questioning of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
German arrogance and megalomania
The statements by the Navy chief, who has since resigned, speak of “German arrogance and megalomania, with which one of the highest-ranking heads of the Bundeswehr dreams of a holy alliance with the war criminal Putin and a German-Russian modern crusade against China”. Melnyk was referring to another statement by Schönbach, who had said: “We need Russia against China.”
On Saturday, Schönbach initially said on Twitter that his statements had been “imprudent”. “There is nothing to interpret, that was a clear mistake.” A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense emphasized that Schönbach’s assessments in no way correspond to the Ministry’s position.
outrage in Ukraine
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kiev summoned the German ambassador in Kiev, Anka Feldhusen, to deal with the matter. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the federal government did not want to supply Ukraine with weapons. Defense Minister Lambrecht again rejected the corresponding demands at the weekend.
Russia has massed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border in recent weeks. The West therefore fears a major Russian attack on the neighboring country. Moscow denies any invasion plans.
Source From: Stern
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