The Kremlin said Monday it was difficult to disagree with analysts who argue U.S. President Donald Trump would cement a place in American—and global—history if he succeeded in taking control of Greenland.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was not weighing whether such a move would be beneficial or harmful, describing it instead as a matter-of-fact assessment.
Trump has repeatedly insisted he will accept nothing less than ownership of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. He has also argued that if the United States does not take control of the island, Russia or China will.
Asked to respond to Trump’s comments about an alleged Russian threat, Peskov said there has been a wave of “disturbing information” recently, but the Kremlin would not address claims about supposed Russian intentions toward Greenland.
“Here, perhaps, it is possible to abstract from whether this is good or bad, whether it will comply with the parameters of international law or not,” Peskov said.
“There are international experts who believe that by resolving the issue of Greenland’s incorporation, Trump will certainly go down in history. And not only in the history of the United States, but also in world history.”
Leaders in both Denmark and Greenland have insisted the island is not for sale and does not want to become part of the United States.
Russia’s foreign ministry said last week it was unacceptable for Western governments to repeatedly claim that Russia and China pose a threat to Greenland, arguing the dispute highlights what it called double standards among Western powers that present themselves as morally superior.
