Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says when Washington speaks about right of people's self-determination in Greenland, it should respect such right everywhere
Russia is closely monitoring the escalating situation surrounding US territorial claims to Canada and Greenland but considers these issues to fall under Washington's bilateral relations with Ottawa and Copenhagen, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Peskov said: "We are following this rather dramatic development closely. Thankfully, for now, it remains at the level of statements."
On Jan. 7, President-elect Donald Trump, who is taking office on Jan. 20, said Greenland should become part of the US to ensure national security and protect against potential threats from China and Russia.
Trump is also actively promoting the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state. According to him, many Canadians allegedly support this proposal, and such a move would bring economic stability to Canada and shield it from perceived external threats, including "Russian and Chinese ships."
In response, Peskov noted the inconsistency in Washington's stance on self-determination, pointing out that the US is accusing Russia of annexing four regions of Ukraine.
"If the US speaks about respecting the will of Greenland's population, it is worth recalling the expressed wishes of the people of Donbas and Novorossiya, who chose to reunite with Russia," he said.
Peskov criticized the lack of Europe's response to Trump's rhetoric, explaining it by lack of determination to oppose Trump.
"Europe reacts very timidly -- it is clear they are hesitant to challenge Trump's words. If there is talk about respecting the will of people, then the same respect should be shown to the people of the four new regions of the Russian Federation. This is a principle that must not be forgotten," he said.
Regarding the Arctic region, Peskov reiterated its strategic importance to Russia. "The Arctic zone is an area of our national and strategic interests. We are present in the Arctic and will continue to be. Maintaining peace and stability in the region is paramount, and we are open to cooperation with all nations to achieve this goal," he noted.
On US-Russia relations, the Kremlin noted that no requests have been received from Trump's team for communication with President Vladimir Putin.
"It would be logical to wait until Trump takes office. Should he wish to resume high-level contacts after assuming office, President Putin would welcome it," Peskov said.
The Kremlin is also monitoring discussions about the Panama Canal, sparked by Trump's remarks suggesting that the US might reclaim control if current usage terms are not renegotiated, although considering it a matter of the US-Panama bilateral relations, Peskov said.
Trump has earlier criticized the high tariffs for canal transit and argued that the 1999 transfer of control to Panama was intended as a gesture of cooperation, not a concession.
In response, Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino has firmly stated that the canal's ownership is non-negotiable.
