Kremlin says Trump would make history by acquiring Greenland

Monday 19 January 2026 - 14:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Kremlin says Trump would make history by acquiring Greenland

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov acknowledged Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump would etch himself into world history if he succeeds in acquiring Greenland, declining to label such an outcome positive or negative.

"We might set aside whether this benefits or harms, or aligns with international law," Peskov said. "International analysts believe that if Trump resolves the Greenland annexation issue, he will undoubtedly go down in history not just in the U.S. context, but globally."

Peskov's carefully worded statement comes amid rising confrontation between Washington and European allies over the Danish autonomous territory. Trump has steadfastly insisted he will accept nothing short of acquiring Greenland, warning that if the U.S. does not claim it, Russia or China will.

Pressed on Trump's claims of a "Russian threat" to Greenland, Peskov cited a surge in "alarming information" but refused comment on any Russian intentions toward the territory. Russia's Foreign Ministry previously deemed it "unacceptable" for Western nations to portray Russia and China as threats to Greenland, calling it Western hypocrisy. Last week, Peskov described the Greenland situation as "unusual" and "extraordinary from an international law perspective."

The dispute escalated sharply after Trump announced Saturday he would impose 10% tariffs on imports from eight NATO allies Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1, potentially rising to 25% by June. These tariff threats respond to those countries deploying military personnel to Greenland for what European officials described as Arctic security training exercises.

EU ambassadors held an emergency meeting in Brussels Sunday, and European Council President Antonio Costa announced plans for a special EU leaders' summit this week. Denmark and Greenland leaders firmly reiterated the island is not for sale. "Greenland is not for sale," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated jointly with Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. "You cannot buy another people."

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Trump's tariff threats as "completely wrong," while the EU has prepared retaliatory tariffs worth about $107.7 billion that could activate automatically on February 6.