BERLIN—The head of the German navy resigned on Saturday after saying that Russia would never surrender Crimea to Ukraine and that President Vladimir Putin only wanted respect, in comments that caused a diplomatic row between Berlin and Kyiv.
Vice Adm. Kay-Achim Schönbach said in a statement released by the navy that he had requested the defense minister relieve him with immediate effect of his duty after his “thoughtless comments about security and defense policy.”
