German admiral resigns after claiming Putin deserves respect
THE head of the German navy has resigned after being criticised for saying that what Vladimir Putin really wants is “respect” and that giving it to him would be “low-cost”.
The Defence Ministry in Berlin distanced itself from Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach’s remarks, in which he also said Germany should seek a partnership with Russia because it is a Christian country.
It came as Germany blocked Nato ally Estonia from supplying arms to Ukraine, despite Washington endorsing Baltic shipments of anti-tank and antiaircraft missiles to Kyiv.
Adml Schoenbach said: “I have just asked the Federal Minister of Defence to release me from my duties as chief of the navy with immediate effect.
“The thoughtless comments I made in India on security and military policy are increasingly weighing on my office.
“To prevent further damage to the German navy, the Bundeswehr, but above all to the Federal Republic of Germany, I consider this step necessary.” Adml Schoenbach previously apologised for his “rash” comments, which were published on YouTube and widely circulated on German media.
A spokesman for the German defence ministry said the remarks did not reflect Germany’s position in either content or wording. In the video, the admiral says: “What he (Putin) really wants is respect.
Giving someone respect is low-cost, even no cost... It is easy to give him the respect he really demands – and probably also deserves.”
He continues, calling Russia an old and important country.
The first tranche of a $200 million (£145 million) US security package for Ukraine arrived in the country, which faces the threat of invasion by at least 100,000 Russian troops amassed at its borders. In contrast with Washington and London, Germany refused permission for Estonia’s government to send Soviet-era D-30 howitzers into Ukraine, relying on a veto that was a condition of the weapons’ export from Germany.
The rejection by Berlin has exasperated Ukrainian ministers amid concerns that Germany’s reluctance to provide arms could undermine Nato efforts to protect the country.
Yesterday, Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, accused Berlin of “encouraging Vladimir Putin”.
Mr Kuleba added that German statements “about the impossibility of supplying defence weapons to Ukraine” did not match “the current security situation”, and warned that Western unity in the face of Moscow was “more important than ever”.
Oleksii Reznikov, the Ukrainian defence minister, admitted that Germany “has a lot of hesitation to deliver [arms] to us” and said he hoped it would reverse its position. Christine Lambrecht, his German counterpart, said that Berlin would send a field hospital to Ukraine but reiterated her government’s refusal of requests for weapons.
“Weapons deliveries would not be helpful at the moment,” she said.
Germany has a long-standing policy of banning weapons exports to conflict zones as part of attempts to make amends for Nazi atrocities.
Russia insists it has no plans to invade Ukraine but has imposed a series of security demands, including a ban on Ukraine joining Nato, in exchange for de-escalation. Ukraine says it is grateful for the UK’s swift provision of arms and troops which arrived earlier this week.
Serhii Rakhmanin, a senior MP in Ukraine, said: “We are very grateful. The military supply from the UK looks like the most effective one and the most well-timed. For me personally, sadly, the German position was sorrowful. As we know Germany tells us it is a reliable partner, but does not act like this.”
Andriy Zagorodnyuk, an Oxfordeducated former defence minister in Ukraine, said the country may have to resort to guerilla-style tactics if Russia invades, and this meant fast deliveries of light weaponry were crucial.
“It’s exactly what we need, the UK was very quick to move,” he said, referring to its provision of 2,000 anti-tank missile launchers and training from the British Army’s Ranger Regiment.
Talks between Washington and Moscow on the Ukraine crisis failed to find an agreement this week, but fresh talks between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany are due in Paris on Tuesday.