Kadyrov explains his words about Ukraine

The statements on the Ukrainian issue are the personal viewpoint of an ordinary citizen, Ramzan Kadyrov has stated, adding that if there are no people in Ukraine who will help the country to resist the United States, Russia should come to the rescue.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 25, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, reacted to Kadyrov's statement that if he were the head of Russia, he "would have taken Ukraine a long time ago" by sending troops there. Mr Peskov has reminded that the Russia's foreign policy is within the competence of Vladimir Putin. On December 26, Kadyrov made another a public statement about the need to join Ukraine to Russia. However, already on December 29, Kadyrov softened his statements about Ukraine, explaining that the people of Ukraine should themselves deal with the "treacherous actions" of President Vladimir Zelensky.

His statements on Ukraine are an expression of his personal opinion, and not a statement of the head of Chechnya, Mr Kadyrov has explained today. He has noted that Russia should help Ukraine in resisting America stressing that this is only his personal opinion as an ordinary person.

Kadyrov has also added that he doesn't claim for any leadership positions in Moscow. "My place is here, in the Chechen Republic, and I will not leave it," he has promised.

Earlier, Dmitry Peskov pointed out that Kadyrov, like other regional heads, has no authority to interfere in Russia's foreign policy. Such a statement was made, in particular, after the head of Chechnya had sharply criticized the French President, Emmanuel Macron, in October 2020.