Vice-admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach steps down after suggesting Russia’s actions are justified and downplaying Ukraine’s chances of reclaiming Crimea.

Kay-Achim Schönbach, the chief of Germany’s navy, resigned after making controversial statements at a livestreamed event in which he suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin “deserves respect” and argued that Ukraine would never reclaim the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

The remarks, made during a discussion at a thinktank event in Delhi on Friday, raised concerns within the international community. Schönbach downplayed the likelihood of a military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, dismissing the idea that Russia had an interest in occupying a small part of Ukrainian territory. “Putin is putting on pressure because he knows he can do it, he splits the European Union,” Schönbach stated.

The comments sparked outrage in Ukraine, with the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin calling them “massive” doubts on Germany’s reliability in international diplomacy. This led to increased scrutiny of Germany’s stance on the escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine, and the eventual resignation of the vice-admiral.

Schönbach’s comments were seen as a departure from the broader European consensus, which views Russia’s actions as a serious threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty.