press review
Scandal about Schönbach
“Rhetorical killing spree”: This is how the press evaluates the statements made by the German naval chief in Ukraine
Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach, Inspector of the German Navy, has vacated his post after controversial statements about the Ukraine crisis
© Bernd Wüstneck / DPA
The inspector of the German Navy, Kay-Achim Schönbach, has caused serious irritation with statements about the Ukraine conflict and outraged the government in Kiev. This is how the press comments on the scandal.
After controversial statements about the Ukraine conflict, the head of the German Navy, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach, had to resign at the weekend. During a visit to India on Friday, Schönbach described the Russian troops’ fears of invading Ukraine 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 also commented on the Ukrainian Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014. “The Crimean peninsula is lost, it will never return,” said Schönbach.
Ukraine welcomed “the fact that Mr. Schönbach has offered his resignation”, but explained that the scandal left “a shambles” and “massively called into question” Germany’s international credibility and reliability. Schönbach’s statements “sent the entire Ukrainian public into deep shock.”
This is how the press comments on the scandal surrounding Schönbach’s Ukraine statements:
“Südkurier” (Constance): “While the West, led by the United States, is looking for a way to dissuade Russian ruler Vladimir Putin from the military threat to neighboring Ukraine, the inspector of the German Navy is firing a full broadside at these efforts. In the Kremlin, one can congratulate oneself on such a It is understandable that in Kiev, where the fear of a Russian invasion is palpable, Admiral Schönbach’s omissions are taken as an affront, because the support for Moscow’s position adds to the distance that The federal government is imposing itself on Ukraine. The no to the delivery of defensive weapons is part of this, as is the hesitation to use the Nord Stream gas pipeline as a means of exerting pressure on the scales. The message: Germany – the insecure cantonist when it comes to a clear stance. Now the rhetorical killing spree of an admiral. The damage to the ground could not be greater.”
“New Press” (Coburg): “There is only one good thing: that Kay-Achim Schönbach was quickly out of the picture. But the damage has been done, especially in Ukraine, where there are already doubts about the statements of support from Berlin. It should be difficult, the Vice Admiral’s devastating sentences to get out of the world again.”
“Northwest Newspaper” (Oldenburg): “The affair surrounding the resigned Vice-Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach only has losers – except for Russia. (…) Schönbach is a well-connected military man with international expertise. His word should carry weight. But if he disagrees with his Government, should he bring this up for discussion in his military position in the Ministry of Defense, not at an event in India.(…) The laughing third party is (again) Russia.The government in Moscow now has further evidence of the enemy’s weakness – and new material for their propaganda narrative of the anti-Russian West, which Russia is currently using to justify its aggressive policies.”
“Schönbach had to go, but the damage remains”
“Nuremberg newspaper”: “If a military man, one of the highest-ranking in the Bundeswehr, contradicts the political leadership in a delicate situation – or publicly expresses a different stance than the official one – then resignation is inevitable. Marine Inspector Schönbach must have known that too – who probably assumed that his assessments of the Ukraine-Russia crisis would remain in the protected framework of a technical discussion in India. But they didn’t.”
“Frankfurter Rundschau”: “It’s interesting who is romping around in the German military: Kay-Achim Schönbach not only talks about “respect” for Vladimir Putin, but also uses his Catholic faith to promote an anti-China alliance with “Christian Russia”. “Schönbach had to go, but the damage remains: He did a disservice to serious efforts to find a compromise with Russia despite everything. No wonder the Ukrainian ambassador immediately dismissed any attempt to differentiate German politics in dealing with Moscow has lumped together with Schönbach’s nonsensical contribution. The bad thing about an incident like this is that it makes it so easy for the growing hard-liner front to defame the desire for relaxation as an unrealistic fantasy.”
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“The New Zurich Times”: “German-Ukrainian relations have been strained for some time: In the conflict with Russia, the government in Kiev sees it, Berlin is refusing to give Ukraine the necessary support. The accusation cannot be dismissed out of hand: unlike the USA or Great Britain The Federal Republic does not deliver weapons to the Eastern European country.(…) It is understandable that Kiev reacts sensitively to Schönbach’s talk, but it is to be feared that during his visit to India he openly stated what was also happening in government and military circles in Germany Many think, but don’t dare to say it. The understanding for Russia is greater in Germany than in most other Western countries, and in any case people prefer to stay out of military negotiations as much as possible.”
“Nezavisimaya Gazeta” (Moscow): “Now attempts are being made to revive the quartet. But preparations for a meeting of advisers to the heads of state and government of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France are underway against the background of a surprise diplomatic scandal. German media published a statement by the Inspector of the German Navy, Kay-Achim Schönbach, who said that, in his opinion, Crimea (peninsula) will never return to Ukraine. That is why the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned German Ambassador Anka Feldhusen. (…) This situation can change the atmosphere of the negotiations in Normandy- format. But no breakthrough is expected from the meeting of political advisers anyway. Their task is to organize a meeting of foreign ministers where the possibility of talks between the heads of state could be discussed. It’s a long way.”