On Thursday, Vladimir Putin threw the glove down for a potential future war in the Arctic, because he stated that Donald Trump is 'serious' about annexing Greenland.
In an ominous warning, Putin stated that Russia is 'very closely' for the next step from Trump.
'We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland. These plans have long had existing historical roots, “Putin told the International Arctic Forum in the Russian city of Murmansk.
His use of the word 'serious' underlined how concerned the Kremlin is through the situation.
Said Putin Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but is willing to defend his interests and will station more soldiers in the region.
Greenland is a strategically important island in the North Atlantic Ocean as a buffer between North America and Russia.
Putin's comments were his first public intervention on this issue.
It comes as Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha are set up on Friday to visit Pituffik Space Base on the northern edge of Greenland. Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz is planned to go with them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told the International Arctic Forum that they are closely monitoring the interest of President Donald Trump in Greenland
In his comments, Putin noted that taking over Greenland is 'not an eccentric talk' of the Trump government.
He also pointed out that the United States has been interested in Greenland for a long time, going back to the 19th century.
“It would be a big mistake to believe that these are a kind of extravagant conversations from the new American administration,” he said.
“None of that kind. In fact, the United States of America had such plans in the 1860s, “he said.
He added that there had been no support in the congress to annex the island.
The Kremlin sees the Arctic area as its area of ​​interest.
Putin wants to increase the trade flow of his country through artic waters while Moscow focuses on partners in Asia and away from Europe, where Western sanctions about his invasion of Ukraine Russian companies harm.
Russia has the longest Arctic coastline in every country, and the enormous reserves of oil and gas in the region make it crucial for the Kremlin.
In the meantime, Trump doubled his desire to take over the island.
'We need Greenland for international security and security. We need it. We must have it, “he told Podcaster Vince Coglianese on Wednesday. “I hate it so to speak, but we will have to have it.”
“We need Greenland for international safety and safety,” said President Donald Trump
Vice President JD Vance and Vrouw Usha Vance will visit the US Space Force Outpost at PituFik
Vance, in an online video, said he participated in the journey of his wife to the island “Just to see what's going on with the security there from Greenland.”
“We want to breathe new life into the security of Greenland because we think it is important to protect the security of the whole world,” Vance said.
Originally Usha had to travel to the island of Solo, with only one of the Vance children. But the administration changed their travel schedule this week and added the vice president to the trip.
The change in plans will also reduce the chance that the vans will cross paths with residents who are angry with Trump's attempts to annex the island, which is a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Vance accused Denmark and earlier American presidents of 'ignoring' the island 'for far too long'.
'Leaders in America and in Denmark ignored Greenland for far too long and that is bad for Greenland. It has also been bad for the safety of the whole world. We think we can take things in a different direction, so I'm going to look at it, “he said in his video.
Moreover, the decision to visit an American military base has removed the risk of violating potential diplomatic taboos by sending a delegation to another country without an official invitation.
Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, where the vans will visit
Apartment buildings and houses are depicted in Nuuk, Greenland
A young boy walks between residential blocks in Nuuk, Greeland
Greenland -Leiders made it clear that the American delegation was neither invited or wanted
Pituff
Pituffik Space Base is one of the most strategically important military sites in the world.
It serves as an early detection site for rocket launches.
About 150 American Air Force and Space Personeels are permanently stationed there.
The name changed from Thule to Pituffik two years ago, which means that in Groenlandse 'the place where we bind our dogs'.
Pituff
Greenland is strategically important for the US Army and its ballistic rocket early warning system.
It contains an impressive position in the Arctic, like a buffer between North America and Russia.
The island, which is three times as large for Texas, has no army and relies on Denmark for protection.
An agreement of 1951 between the United States and Denmark has set up an American law to move freely and to build military bases in Greenland, as long as Denmark and Greenland are informed.
Originally, the Usha Vance office said that the second lady would arrive in Greenland on Thursday and return on Saturday.
She and one of the three children of the couple were planning to visit historic sites, watch a dog race and learn about the culture of Greenland.
The Prime Minister of Greenland, Mute Eede, called the journey 'very aggressive'.
Eede noted that “it has not extended invitations for visits, neither private nor officially.”
Denmark shot the visit and called it part of an 'unacceptable pressure' on them.
'It is clearly not a visit that relates to the needs or wishes of Greenland. That is why I have to say that it is an unacceptable pressure exerted on Greenland and Denmark – and we will record the pressure, “Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish broadcasters DR and TV2.
“President Trump is serious,” she said. “He wants Greenland.”
But Denmark declined somewhat after the American travel plans have changed.
“I have to speak diplomatically here, but in many ways it is a masterful twist to make it look like they escalate when they really de-escalate,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told the Danish broadcaster on Wednesday.
Løkke also called the visit a 'positive' development after his first anger during the trip.
'I think it is very positive that the Americans have canceled their visitors under Greenland society. They will only visit their own base, PituFik, and we have nothing against that, “he said.
Protesters outside the American consulate in Nuuk, Greenland
Polls show that almost all Groenlanders oppose the United States, and Anti-American demonstrators, some wear 'make America go away' caps and keep 'Yankees go home' banners, have been seen on the island with a few protests outside the American consulate in the capital, Nuuk.
There are still questions about why Trump wants the self -managing area.
The president has said that Greenland is important for the national security of America and poorly protected by Denmark. He also noted that he wants access to his critical minerals.
But especially he talks about possessing – a desire that he originally expressed in his first administration.
He also insisted on America to re -take control of the Panama Canal and has called Canada the 51st state.
“I think Greenland will be something that might be in our future,” Trump said on Monday during a cabinet meeting. “I think it's important. It is important from the point of view of international safety. '
