Kadyrov secured Putin's support ahead of the next Chechen presidential election.

Ramzan Kadyrov, who met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, once again called himself his "foot soldier" and reported on the participation of thousands of Chechen residents in the fighting with Ukraine.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, during a live broadcast on December 14, Ramzan Kadyrov declared that he was fed up with power, but will run for the republic's head in the 2026 elections if the president proposes it and the people support it. Kadyrov's remarks about participating in the elections are primarily addressed to a section of the elite that expects his resignation, while he has no need to bargain with the Kremlin, analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" indicated. Kadyrov announced his intention to participate in the next Chechen presidential elections back in July 2023, commenting on rumors that were circulating at the time about his possible replacement.

On April 29, the Russian President met with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov in Moscow and supported his nomination for another term. The transcript of their meeting was released by the Kremlin press service.

According to Putin, the republic has achieved "great results" in "recent years" under the leadership of the current leader, and he "hopes that the people of Chechnya will once again support Kadyrov in the elections" scheduled for September 20.

Ramzan Kadyrov's report to Putin focused on the participation of Chechens in combat operations. Kadyrov reported that more than 70,000 trained fighters have left Chechnya for the Ukrainian front, and over 12,000 of them have received state awards. The Akhmad Kadyrov Foundation has donated 2,830 units of special equipment, 113,000 sets of uniforms, and nearly 30,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the military. Commenting on these figures, Putin called the fighters from Chechnya "true warriors," thanking them and Ramzan Kadyrov personally "for their contribution to the SVO."

Kadyrov also reported on Chechnya's overfulfillment of its 2025 revenue plan and on active flood relief efforts. The absence of casualties in Chechnya, according to Kadyrov, was the result of the measures he had taken. Putin expressed hope that relevant agencies would "do everything necessary" to assist the victims.

Putin also held up Chechnya as an example to other Russian regions "in terms of birth rate," noting that the republic continues to face problems with access to kindergartens and a shortage of doctors. Kadyrov, in response, assured Putin that he would continue to "serve as an infantryman" and would not let him down.

Describing the results of the meeting on his Telegram channel, Ramzan Kadyrov called Putin's support for his candidacy in the next elections "a great honor" and "an enormous responsibility." He twice emphasized that he strives to "justify the high level of trust" and intends to "do everything possible."

On September 19, 2021, the second direct election of the head of Chechnya was held. In addition to Ramzan Kadyrov, the registered candidates included former Grozny mayor and deputy head of the Chechen presidential administration and government, Isa Khadzhimuradov, from the A Just Russia party, and Chechen Parliament member Khalid Nakayev from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. According to the Central Election Commission, Ramzan Kadyrov received 99.7% of the vote in the Chechen presidential election, breaking his 2016 record.

"100% seems inappropriate. Usually, it's 98-99%. And since in this case there was a statement that if at least 2% were against, Ramzan Akhmatovich would resign, it was absolutely necessary to make it 99%," noted Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, director of the Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention.