German navy chief quits after saying Putin deserves respect over Ukraine

The head of Germany’s navy has resigned after coming under fire for arguing that Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin , deserved “respect.” Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach handed in his resignation on Saturday after criticism of his comments, which were filmed and later posted on social media. While at an event in New Delhi, India, on Friday, Schönbach also said the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, would not return under Ukrainian control. In comments captured on video, Schönbach said in English: “What he [Putin] really wants is respect. And my God, giving someone respect is low cost, even no cost. It is easy to give him the respect he really demands – and probably also deserves.” Schönbach later added: “The Crimean Peninsula is gone, it will never come back. This is a fact.” It comes as an estimated 100,000 Russian troops, armed with heavy weapons, have been amassed on the border with Ukraine. Schönbach’s comments sparked a furious reaction in Ukraine, where the German ambassador was summoned in order to lodge a complaint, the Associated Press reports. Berlin also responded with a swift rebuke and by Saturday evening, Schönbach had requested to be dismissed, according to the news… Read full this story

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