The head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, has said that he is ready to "solve the issue" of Ukraine's "annexation" to Russia or Chechnya. The statement by the head of the North Caucasus republic, quoted by Russian media, was made at a press conference in Grozny, reports UNN.
"Ukraine should be annexed to our country, it is our territory," Kadyrov said, adding that if he had been instructed to "solve this issue" - he would have done so long ago. According to him, the head of Chechnya is hindered by "state agreements" .
Kadyrov's statement was made against the backdrop of a deterioration of the situation on the border between Russia and Ukraine. Western intelligence agencies have warned that Moscow is preparing a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin denies any preparations for war.
Putin's main demand is for guarantees from the United States and its allies that NATO will not expand further east and deploy weapons systems there that Russia considers a threat.
The U.S. State Department has indicated that the United States plans to begin talks with Russia on European security guarantees in January to reduce tensions around Ukraine caused by the deployment of Russian troops on its border.
