German Navy Chief Resigns After Russia's Declaration of Conflicts Ukraine

“I have asked the Minister of Defence to free me from duties and obligations as immediate Navy inspector”, said Kay-Achim Schönbach. My thoughtless „statements concerning security policy and military policy weigh heavily upon my”, argued his decision to resign the deputy Admiral. To avoid further damage to the German Navy, Bundeswehr, primarily for the Federal Republic of Germany, I consider this step necessary. ”

Social Democrat Defence Minister Christine accepted the request for the 56-year-old's resignation, the ministry's spokesman announced on Saturday evening (22.01). Until the decision to elect German Navy followers will be led by Schönbach's current deputy, contractor Jan Christian Kaack.

“Crime is lost”

Schönbach, during a round of Tink Tanks conversation in India, has said that the Crime Peninsula annexed in 2014 by Russia is lost to Ukraine. “The crime is over, it's over, it's over, it's actually”. A video recording of this conversation has spread online. Schönach also dismissed fears that the Kremlin already plans an intervention in the neighbouring country. That Russia will absorb Ukrainian territory, this is „absurde”.

At the same time, the marine leader has expressed agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “What Putin really wants is respect as equal. And, God, taking someone doesn't cost anything, it costs nothing. So if you ask me: It's easy to give him the respect he wants, and he seems to deserve it. ”

The defence ministry in Berlin was distanced from Schönbach's statements. Those „will never respond to either content or select the position of the Ministry of Defence”. The chairman of the parliamentary Defence Commission in Bundestag Bundestag, liberal-democrat Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmmann, stressed: “Deputy Admiral Schönbach with his statements has questioned the European security structure and international law. His resignation is logical. ”

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Ukraine's Foreign Ministry for this reason expressed concern to the German ambassador to Kiev, Anka Fefraksen. Schönbach's statements are <x0 recognized”. Earlier, Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba had expressed his anger that the German government would not supply weapons to Ukraine. “We express our deep disappointment with the position of the German government over the non-garganization for weapons supply to Ukraine. ”

Russia last week gathered over 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border. The government in Moscow denies plans for intervention. It calls for security guarantees from NATO, as well as annulment of Ukraine's accession to the alliance. The West rejects this demand and states that the intervention of Russian troops in Ukraine could have serious political and economic consequences.