Status: 01/22/2022 10:10 p.m
After controversial statements on the Ukraine conflict, Admiral Schönbach resigned his post. As the ARD-Capital Studio, the Minister of Defense complied with his request for dismissal.
His irritating statements about the Ukraine conflict have consequences: Germany’s Navy chief Kay-Achim Schönbach has to go. He had asked for his release, that was learned ARD-Capital Studio. Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht complied. Schönbach will be replaced by Rear Admiral Jan Christian Kaack. As the dpa news agency reported, the representatives in the Bundestag had already been informed of the decision.
Schönbach had to report
At an event in India, the marine inspector said, among other things, in a video published on the Internet: “The Crimean peninsula is gone, it will not come back.” He described the invasion of the Ukraine by Russian troops feared by western states as “nonsense”. 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 himself later tried to limit the damage and described his statements on Twitter as a “clear mistake”. The Ministry of Defense distanced itself from his statements. “In terms of content and choice of words, these do not correspond in any way to the position of the Federal Ministry of Defense,” said a spokesman for the dpa news agency. The Vice Admiral will have to explain himself to his superior, Inspector General Eberhard Zorn.
Ambassador was summoned
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador in Kiev, Anka Feldhusen, to deal with the matter. During the conversation, it was made clear that the Navy chief’s comments were unacceptable, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said. In a letter, the ministry stressed the “unacceptability” of the statements.
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. “Germany’s current statements are disappointing,” he wrote on Twitter. This contradicts the aid provided since 2014, for which Kiev is grateful. “Now more than ever, the unity of the West towards Russia is important.” In order to rein in Russia, “considerable efforts together” are necessary, according to Kuleba. The German partners must stop “undermining this unity with statements and actions”.
fear of invasion
In view of the current massive Russian troop deployment on the Ukrainian border, the government in Kiev has long been appealing to the federal government to deliver its so-called defensive weapons and military equipment. In 2014, Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea on the Black Sea. Since then, rebels supported by Moscow have been fighting the pro-Western government in Kiev in the east of the country.
The USA and NATO fear that Russia could plan an invasion of the neighboring country.