Vladimir Putin has given Donald Trump a warning over his plans to annex Greenland, but his words are unlikely to spell an end to Trump's apparent adoration of the Russian president.
Trump has made absolutely no secret of his desire to annex Greenland, having declared that the US needs it for 'international security' reasons and said he'd be taking over the country 'one way or the other'.
Greenland, on the other hand, has made it abundantly clear that it wants no part of Trump's attempts to become its new overlord.
Advert
It is little surprise, then, that the Independent reports US officials were unable to find anyone in Greenland willing to meet with US Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha during an upcoming trip the couple is planning to take there.
US officials reportedly started going door-to-door trying to find someone in Greenland who'd be willing to meet the Vances and got a resounding no.
Meanwhile, Russian president Putin appeared to warn Trump as he said he was 'watching recent developments very closely'.
During a recent speech, he talked of US intent towards Greenland, and while Trump will be gladdened by Putin saying the matter 'has nothing to do with us' he did add that Russia would be increasing its military foothold in the Arctic.
Putin said: "It would be a grave mistake to think that this is just some eccentric talk of the new American administration, nothing of the kind.
"We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland.
Advert
"Those plans have deep historic roots and it is obvious that the US will continue to promote their geopolitical, military and economic interests in the Arctic.
"As for Greenland, I think that this is an issue that concerns two states and has nothing to do with us.
"However, we are concerned by the fact that the NATO countries increasingly identify the far north as a foothold for possible conflicts."
The Russian leader claimed that the 'numbers of military servicemen in the Arctic will be rising', and they would be 'developing our response capabilities'.
Advert
"We will not allow an encroachment of the sovereignty of our country... we will protect our national interests," Putin declared.
However, it's not all warnings as he went on to say that Russia would be willing to work in the region with 'friendly states... possibly including Western countries'.
So it's not all bad for Trump with regards to Putin, but it would be bad for pretty much everyone else and Greenland in particular.
The US is trying to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in an attempt to pause the conflict that started more than three years ago when Putin launched an invasion.
Topics: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Russia, US News, World News
Joe Harker