Hala Arafa - Beth:

The German navy chief has resigned after saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserves respect amid growing fears of an invasion of Ukraine and tensions between Berlin and Kiev over arms supplies.

Speaking at a think-tank meeting in New Delhi on Friday, Vice Admiral Kay Achim Schonbach said the idea that Russia wanted to invade Ukraine was "nonsense" and that all Putin "really wanted" was respect.

"It's easy to give him the respect he wants, and he probably deserves it," Schonbach said, according to a video circulating online, describing the idea that Russia wants to invade part of Ukraine as "foolish."

On the other hand, he said that Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, will not "return" to Ukraine.

Later, Schonbach apologized after writing in a tweet that his words only expressed his own position, calling his words "reckless", adding, "It was clearly a mistake."

But he made it clear in a statement issued on Saturday evening that he submitted his resignation in order to "avoid further damage to the German Navy, and in particular to the Federal Republic of Germany."

The naval chief's comments came amid a severe crisis between Russia and the West over Ukraine.

The two sides are currently making intense diplomatic efforts to avoid a deterioration of the situation, at a time when Moscow is massing tens of thousands of soldiers on the border with Ukraine.

For his part, a German Defense Ministry official said that Schonbach will leave his post immediately, and a ministry statement clarified that the Vice Admiral's statements did not reflect Germany's position.

Earlier on Saturday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba summoned German Ambassador Anka Feldhausen in Kiev to protest the "categorical rejection" of Schönbach's remarks.

Kuleba also condemned Germany for refusing to supply Kiev with weapons, and urged Berlin to stop "undermining unity" and "encouraging Vladimir Putin."

Kuleba said on Twitter that Germany's statements "about the impossibility of providing Ukraine with defensive weapons" did not correspond to the "current security situation."

"German partners must stop undermining unity with such words and deeds and encourage Vladimir Putin to launch a new attack on Ukraine," Kuleba said.

He added that Ukraine is "grateful" to Germany for the support it has already provided, but that its "current statements are disappointing."

On Saturday, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced that Berlin would send a field hospital to Ukraine, while again rejecting Kiev's calls for arms.

Lambrecht added: "Delivery of weapons would not be useful at the moment - that is the consensus within the government."

The German defense minister said that Berlin had already delivered ventilators to Ukraine, and seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers were being treated in German military hospitals.

On the other hand, the United States, Britain and the Baltic states agreed to send weapons to Kiev, including anti-tank missiles.