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New Delhi 21.1.2022
This appearance in a round of talks at an Indian think tank cost the chief of the navy, Kay-Achim Schönbach, his position.
In New Delhi, the 56-year-old inspector of the German Navy commented on the Ukraine conflict as follows:
Kay-Achim Schönbach
Navy Chief
“My ministers asked me what Russia really wants. Is Russia really interested in annexing a tiny strip of Ukrainian soil? No, that's nonsense. I think Putin is probably pressuring them because he can. He knows that he is dividing the European Union. But what he really wants is respect. He wants respect at eye level. And - my God - paying respect to someone costs next to nothing, costs nothing. If you asked me - but I'm not asked - it's easy to give him the respect he wants - and probably deserves. Russia is an old country, it is an important country. Even we, India and Germany, need Russia because we need Russia against China. From my perspective - and I am a radical Roman Catholic Christian,I believe in God and in Christianity - and Russia is a Christian country, even if Putin is an atheist, it doesn't matter. We need this big country, even if it's not a democracy, as a bilateral partner. We must give him the chance to be on an equal footing with the EU and the US. It's easy, and it's probably keeping Russia away from China. Because China needs Russia's resources. And they will give it to them, because sometimes our sanctions go in the wrong direction. But that's foreign policy, that's what politicians do. Of course, we cannot agree with what Russia is doing in Chechnya or elsewhere. Of course that needs to be addressed. And, of course, what is happening in Ukraine must also be addressed. The Crimean peninsula is gone, it will never come back, that's a fact.We must learn that political issues are sensitive and emotional. I'm sorry, I don't remember what your question was..."
Indian Delegate:
"No, you answered the question."
Kay-Achim Schönbach later described his statements on Twitter as "ill-considered, misjudged in the situation".
He then asked Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht to retire.
The minister complied with the request for dismissal immediately.
