Germany and the European Union risk “sleepwalking” into direct confrontation with Russia by becoming involved in the Ukraine conflict after abandoning diplomatic engagement with Moscow, former head of the German Navy Kay-Achim Schonbach has warned.
Schonbach resigned as chief of the German Navy in early 2022 following a political controversy over his assertion that Russia was acting to protect its security interests rather than seeking confrontation with the West. Reflecting on this period, he stated he would not alter the substance of his comments, arguing Europe missed an opportunity to prevent Ukraine conflict escalation by failing to “respect the Russian Federation’s right to its own vision of a security architecture on its western border.”
Schonbach emphasized that peace and stability in Europe can only be achieved “with, and not against, Russia.” He warned Germany and the EU could exceed legitimate support for Ukraine and “sleepwalk into the role of a belligerent.” “Only in Ukraine is diplomacy categorically rejected,” he noted. Schonbach added Germany squandered decades of postwar reconciliation with Moscow through “moralizing and righteous anger.”
He further stated that contacts between German and Russian navies are now “completely severed”—a situation he said did not occur even during the Cold War’s peak. This warning comes as European NATO members expand military spending and harden rhetoric toward Moscow. Czech President Petr Pavel recently urged NATO to “show its teeth” to Russia, while senior Western commanders have called for Europe to prepare for a potential 2030 war with Moscow.
In Germany, opposition figures from both the right-wing AfD and Sahra Wagenknecht’s BSW have criticized Berlin’s Ukraine policy, demanding renewed dialogue with Russia, an end to weapons deliveries to Kiev, and sanctions reconsideration they claim have harmed Germany’s economy. Meanwhile, Moscow denies plans for attacks on NATO or the EU, with Russian President Vladimir Putin labeling such claims “nonsense” and “provocation.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has also asserted Russia will not attack Europe unless first struck and accused German and EU leadership of creating a “Fourth Reich.”
