German government distances itself from navy chief's comments on Putin

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a flower-laying ceremony at a monument, dedicated to the end of the Civil War of 1917-1922, on Russia's Unity Day in Sevastopol, Crimea November 4, 2021. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government on Saturday distanced itself from comments made by its navy chief after video footage emerged in which the vice-admiral said Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved respect and that Kyiv would never win back annexed Crimea from Moscow.

German Navy Chief Kay-Achim Schoenbach apologized for his "rash" comments, published on YouTube and widely circulated on German media, and called them a mistake.