A crisis in Kiev-Berlin relations arose on the occasion of the more moderate German stance on the Ukrainian crisis.
Ukraine has accused Germany of “encouraging” Russian President Vladimir Putin following Berlin’s refusal to send weapons to Kiev, which is worried about an impending invasion following the gathering of Russian forces on its border.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned German Ambassador to Kiev Anka Felhuzen after the “absolutely unacceptable” statements, according to Kiev, of the German Navy chief, who described as “nonsense” the fact that Russia’s allies in the intend to invade Ukraine.
Germany announced on Saturday that it would send a campaign hospital to Ukraine in February, but rejected the possibility of sending weapons.
“Today, the West’s unity with Russia is more important than ever,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba wrote on Twitter.
“Germany’s partners must stop undermining unity with such words and actions and encourage Vladimir Putin to launch a new offensive against Ukraine.”
Ukraine is grateful to Germany for its support, but “these statements are disappointing,” he added.
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has said that sending weapons to Ukraine would not help ease the crisis.
Amid the crisis between Russia and the West, German Vice Admiral Kai-Achim Senbach appeared on video to say that Russian President Vladimir Putin “deserves respect” and that Kiev would never regain the Crimean peninsula and that Putin wants to be treated as equal by the West. “What he really wants is respect. And, my God, respecting someone does not cost much, it costs nothing. “It’s easy to give him the respect he wants – and he probably deserves it,” he said, describing Russia as an old and important country.
A spokesman for the Defense Ministry in Berlin said Schμnbach’s comments did not reflect Germany’s position, either in content or in wording. “Rear Admiral Schμnbach will have the opportunity to express his views,” he told the defense minister.
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