German Navy Chief Resigns After Saying Ukraine Won't Get Crimea Back And Putin 'Probably' Deserves Respect | Forbes - Jan. 24, 2021 |

Germany's top naval officer stepped down following comments he made about Russia, including a call to show respect to Russian President Vladimir Putin and claiming Ukraine would never win Crimea back from Russia.

• Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach apologized for his "rash" comments and said they were a mistake in a tweet, and added in a statement to multiple news outlets his "position is increasingly burdened by the ill-advised comments on security and military policy."
• Schönbach asked German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht to relieve him of his duties effective immediately, which he said she did, according to the statement.
• Schoenbach's comments drew criticism from the German and Ukrainian governments after a video recording of him speaking at an event in India surfaced earlier this week.

It is the decision of the Bundeskanzler im Krieg to deliver Leopard 2 tanks for the war in Ukraine starting in 2024 ... ein Wechsel des Oberbefehlshabers zu Auftragsverwalter.

'Sapere aude'

⚡️Bild: Germany's leading defense manufacturer Rheinmetall can't deliver Leopard tanks before 2024

Rheinmetall has 22 Leopard 2 models and 88 Leopard 1 in stock, but preparing the decommissioned tanks for battle will take "just under a year," the CEO told German media.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) January 15, 2023

Tank swap: Rheinmetall supplying the Slovak Republic with Leopard 2 A4 MBTs | EDR Magazine - Nov. 11, 2022 |

Under the German government's "Ringtausch" equipment exchange programme, Rheinmetall will soon be supplying the Slovak Republic with main battle tanks and other military hardware. In turn, the Slovak military will be transferring military equipment [15 T-72 tanks] to Ukraine. This has now been contractually agreed in Brussels between representatives of both countries and Rheinmetall.

The Slovak armed forces will be receiving 15 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks. The order includes ammunition as well as a service package encompassing training and spare parts. The first vehicle is due to be shipped in December 2022, with delivery to be complete by the end of 2023.

The "Ringtausch" is a procedure developed by the German government in cooperation with Germany's neighbours and NATO allies to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. Specifically, NATO member states are providing Ukraine with Soviet-era heavy equipment in exchange for readily available Western military systems.

New European Security Initiative -- NATO sanctioned swap-deals Ringtausch | ECFR |

Unfortunately, tens of thousands of lives destroyed and the poverty and inequality across Europe increased in less than 365 days, reality proves him right. #WeAreNato #weareunited

'Sapere aude'