Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy Schoenbach confirms that he has submitted his resignation

This was reported on the website of the Bundeswehr.

"I ... asked ... to immediately relieve me of my duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy," the statement said.

It is noted that his request was granted by the federal minister.

Earlier, Bild reported that Kai-Achim Schönbach resigned after saying that Crimea would never return to Ukraine.

Schönbach, during a speech in India, said that Crimea would never again become part of Ukraine, he also expressed doubts that Ukraine would become a member of NATO.

He later explained that this was his private opinion.

The German Defense Ministry said they did not share Schönbach's views on Crimea.

The Ambassador of Germany was summoned to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry after the statements of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum held there in March 2014, in which the majority of residents voted for reunification with Russia.