Kremlin spokesperson says Greenlanders’ opinions on Trump’s territorial claims should be respected, like in Russia’s ’new regions’

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the opinion of Greenland’s population must be considered in the matter of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s claims to the island, just as the views of residents in Russia’s “new regions” were taken into account.

Peskov noted that Russia is “closely monitoring” what he described as the “rather dramatic developments” around Greenland but emphasized that this is “primarily a matter of bilateral relations between the U.S., Denmark, and other countries.”

“It’s worth mentioning — Washington has been talking about respecting the opinion of the population,” Peskov said. “But if respecting public opinion is being emphasized, perhaps it’s time to recall the views of the people in Russia’s four new regions and extend the same respect to [them].”

When asked about Trump’s intentions for Greenland, Peskov described the Arctic as a “zone of national and strategic interest” for Russia. “We are present in the Arctic and will continue to maintain our presence there. Our priority is to preserve peace and stability in the Arctic, and we remain open to cooperation with all countries,” he added.

Trump floated the idea of purchasing Greenland during his presidency in 2019. After winning the 2024 election, he revived the proposal. In December, he called “ownership and control” of Greenland an “absolute necessity” for U.S. national security. At a press conference on January 7, Trump warned Denmark that it could face high tariffs if it refused to relinquish control of the island. Asked whether he could rule out military or economic pressure to secure Greenland, Trump replied, “I can’t assure you.”