The Kremlin has issued a stark assessment of the escalating diplomatic row over Greenland, labelling the security situation surrounding the vast Arctic island as 'extraordinary'. This declaration comes amid persistent threats from US President Donald Trump to take control of the Danish territory.
Moscow's 'Extraordinary' Legal Warning
On Friday, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia considers Greenland to be Danish territory. He described the unfolding crisis as unusual and extraordinary from the standpoint of international law. Peskov's comments, reported by Russian state news outlet Ria Novosti, included a pointed reference to President Trump's stance, noting that the US leader 'has said that international law is not a priority for him'.
Peskov added that Moscow would be watching, alongside the rest of the world, which 'trajectory' the situation develops along. This follows a broader accusation from Russia's Foreign Ministry this week, which claimed it is unacceptable for the West to keep asserting that Russia and China threaten Greenland. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova argued the crisis exposes Western double standards and demonstrates the inconsistency of the 'rules-based world order' promoted by Western powers.
A Meeting of 'Fundamental Disagreement'
The diplomatic tensions reached a new peak on Wednesday when Greenland and Denmark's foreign ministers held talks with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting between Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt, and the US officials reportedly ended in a 'fundamental disagreement'.
Rasmussen acknowledged that they failed to change the American position, a result he said he had anticipated. Despite the impasse, the parties agreed to form a high-level working group to explore a potential common way forward. Rasmussen stated the group would focus on addressing US security concerns while respecting Denmark's 'red lines', though he admitted, 'Whether that is doable, I don't know'.
The first meeting of this group is expected within weeks, though details on its composition remain scarce. Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen called the establishment of the group 'a step in the right direction', allowing for direct dialogue.
Trump's Insistence and the Geopolitical Stakes
President Donald Trump has been insistent on the US seizing Greenland, citing national security reasons and has not ruled out taking it by force. He has repeatedly justified his stance by claiming that China and Russia have designs on the island, which is rich in critical minerals.
The situation has drawn a bipartisan group of 11 US Congress members to Greenland for meetings with local MPs on Friday, seen as a show of support. Meanwhile, an anonymous European diplomat characterised Vice President Vance's role in the talks starkly, telling Politico: 'Vance hates us'.
As the working group prepares for its first session, expectations for a breakthrough remain low. The world now watches to see if diplomatic channels can 'take down the temperature' in what the Kremlin has firmly cast as an extraordinary international crisis.
