Russia is "watching this rather dramatic development of the situation very closely," President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson said.

The Arctic remains a key area for Russia, emphasized Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, commenting on Donald Trump's statements about Greenland. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted on Thursday that the Arctic is integral to Russia's national interests.

The Kremlin says it’s watching with “great interest” President-elect Trump’s ambitions for the U.S. to acquire Greenland. Trump declined to rule out using military force in his pursuit of Greenland this week,

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday a meeting was being set up between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the Republican offered no timeline for talks between the two leaders.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the opinion of Greenland’s population must be considered in the matter of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s claims to the island, just as the views of residents in Russia’s “new regions” were taken into account.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says when Washington speaks about right of people's self-determination in Greenland, it should respect such right everywhere - Anadolu Ajansı

Russia is watching US President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks about acquiring Greenland, a Kremlin spokesperson said on Thursday, heaving a sigh of relief that the expansionist ambition has not gone beyond rhetoric as of now.

Advisers to Trump have floated proposals to end the war that would effectively cede large parts of the country to Russia for the foreseeable future

The cause of the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, is still unknown. The Kremlin has so far been tight-lipped, prompting questions over its messaging.

Russian President Vladimir Putin would welcome contact with Donald Trump if Trump’s political will remains after his inauguration as US president on January 20, said the Kremlin on Thursday.

Trump refused to rule out military action to take control of the Arctic island and had earlier vowed to slap high tariffs on Denmark if it refused to cede its autonomous territory.