The Kremlin announced that it is closely monitoring Trump's ambitions regarding Greenland.

Russia is closely monitoring the statements made by the elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, regarding a potential military takeover of Greenland.

This was stated on January 9 by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Peskov's comments came after Trump, during a press conference on January 7, refused to rule out the possibility of using military force to gain control over Greenland, which he claimed was necessary for the U.S. "economic security."

Russia is observing the situation due to its "strategic interests" in the Arctic region, Peskov noted.

"The Arctic is an area of our national interests, our strategic interests," said the Kremlin spokesman.

"We are interested in maintaining an atmosphere of peace and stability in the Arctic zone. We are watching the quite dramatic developments very closely, but so far, thank God, at the level of statements."

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. It houses military bases from Denmark and the U.S., as well as vast mineral resources.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded to Trump's comments, stating that Greenland "is not for sale" and that its future belongs to the people of Greenland.

Other European officials, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, also made statements defending Greenland's territorial integrity.

Peskov criticized the responses from European leaders as too timid.

"Europe is reacting very timidly; it is, of course, afraid to respond to Trump's words, which is why Europe is reacting very cautiously, modestly, quietly, almost in whispers," Peskov said.

Trump, who will return to the White House on January 20, announced an expansionist program for the U.S. that includes the takeover of Greenland, the Panama Canal, and the annexation of Canada.

Background. Meanwhile, Defense Express reported that Trump is far from the first to show interest in Greenland: the U.S. has had plans since the 1960s to dig 4,000 km of tunnels in Greenland – these tunnels were intended to house 600 Iceman ballistic missiles aimed at the USSR as a "second strike" weapon.