Kadyrov has been the head of the Chechen Republic since 2007. On March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Kadyrov would assume the title of "acting leader" once his current term expires on April 5 until after the results of the upcoming elections in September.
"[It's] necessary to focus more on the situation. I am sure that, in a few months, they [the European Union] will settle everything there, everything [for us] will be all right… If not all, then the most important sanctions will be canceled," Kadyrov said.
"In Syria, they cannot do anything, no matter what coalition they created, whatever policy applied — UN or NATO. They did whatever they wanted. They have destroyed the republic. They destroyed Libya [and then] left. Egypt — well, it is great that they weren't able to destroy it completely, but they were destructive. They destroyed Iraq. Afghanistan is still being destroyed… they have no vision of even what to do," Kadyrov said.
In 2014, the European Union and the United States sanctioned Russia's defense, energy and banking sectors following Crimea’s reunification with Russia and accused Moscow of fueling the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly refuted these allegations.
The Chechen Republic is a Russian federal subject located in the North Caucasus.
