A Russian nationalist politician has warned that Europe would be forced to beg for Moscow's protection if war were to break out between Russia and the United States. Aleksey Zhuravlev, 63, deputy chairman of the Russian parliament's defence committee, said US President Donald Trump's territorial ambitions could trigger a 'planetary disaster'.
Speaking after Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, Zhuravlev said on Telegram: 'I wouldn't be at all surprised if, were a confrontation with the United States to occur, Europe would come running to us, bowing at our feet, begging for protection.' He accused Trump of believing he is 'the king of the universe' and warned that leaders with such egos have 'more often than not led the planet to disaster'.
Zhuravlev's comments come amid heightened tensions over Greenland. Trump said on Wednesday that the US 'needs Greenland for the purpose of national security', while EU chief Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed that 'Greenland belongs to its people' and said she had been in contact with Denmark over the issue.
The Russian MP has previously made aggressive statements, including proposing that Moscow supply nuclear-capable missiles to Venezuela and Cuba, and calling for Russian forces to 'sink a couple of American Coast Guard boats' in response to the US capture of a Russian oil tanker. He claimed that the tanker seizure was 'an encroachment on Russian territory' and that Russia's military doctrine 'even provides for the use of nuclear weapons' in such cases.
