Robert Besser
25 Jan 2022, 06:04 GMT+10
BERLIN, Germany: Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach, head of the German Navy, resigned due to comments he made on Ukraine and Russia.
Speaking at an event in India, Kay-Achim Schoenbach said Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and it was important to have Russia on the same side against China, while suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved "respect."
Captured on video, his comments caused anger in Ukraine, which summoned the German ambassador to complain, and caused a swift rebuke in Berlin.
Due to the uproar, Schoenbach offered his resignation, stating he wanted to prevent further damage to Germany and its military from his "ill-considered statements."
The German Navy said Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht had accepted Schoenbach's resignation and appointed his deputy as interim naval chief.
The German government stressed that it stands united with its NATO allies on Russia's military threat to its neighbor, warning that Moscow will pay a high price if it takes military action against Ukraine.
However, Berlin said it will not supply weapons to Ukraine, and insisted it does not want to further inflame tensions.
Get a daily dose of Germany Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Germany Sun.
More InformationROME, Italy: Italy has announced plans to sell state-owned ITA Airways, the successor to Alitalia, by the end of June, ...
ZAGREB, Croatia: Croatian lawmakers have voted to allow the introduction of the euro currency in 2023. Lawmakers voted 117-13 to ...
MOSCOW, Russia: Russia's weekly inflation rate has further eased after surging soon after Moscow began its invasion in Ukraine on ...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Three years after the adoption of the landmark EU copyright rules, Google is set to pay 300 publishers ...
WOLFSBURG, Germany: Tesla's expansion took Volkswagen by surprise, said an official, and the German carmaker may struggle to overtake Tesla, ...
Beijing [China], May 17 (ANI): China's infamous Zero-COVID policy has gained eyeballs for all the wrong reasons and amid this ...
BERLIN, Germany: Citing Interior Ministry data, Welt am Sonntag newspaper has reported that more than 700,000 people fleeing the war ...
DOLNI MORAVA, Czech Republic: The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge has opened at a mountain resort in the Czech Republic. ...
ZAGREB, Croatia: Croatian lawmakers have voted to allow the introduction of the euro currency in 2023. Lawmakers voted 117-13 to ...
DUBLIN, Ireland - Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has condemned "disgraceful scenes of police brutality" at the funeral of Al Jazeera ...
ISTANBUL, Turkey - Veto-wielding NATO member Turkey is voicing opposition to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance, with Turkish President ...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Three years after the adoption of the landmark EU copyright rules, Google is set to pay 300 publishers ...