U.S. President Donald Trump said European countries should focus their attention on Russia’s war against Ukraine rather than on discussions surrounding Greenland. He made the remarks in a comment to NBC News, once again criticizing the position of European leaders.
According to Trump, Europe faces real security challenges, and the war in Ukraine should be its top priority:
“Europe should focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see where that has gotten them. That’s what Europe should be focused on – not Greenland,” the U.S. president said.
Pressure on Europe Over Greenland
The statement comes amid rising tensions between Washington and European capitals over Trump’s intention to seek U.S. control over Greenland. The American president also did not rule out imposing tariffs on European countries if no agreement on the island is reached, saying he would “do that 100%.”
At the same time, Trump declined to directly answer whether he would consider the use of force to establish control over Greenland.
Nobel Prize and Escalating Rhetoric
Separately, the U.S. president commented on his letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, in which he linked his tougher foreign policy rhetoric to the fact that he was not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump insists that Norway has direct influence over the decisions of the Nobel Committee, despite formal denials from Oslo.
Earlier, Denmark announced the deployment of military equipment and units to Greenland, as well as preparations for joint exercises with allies amid growing tensions over the island’s status.
Conclusion
Against the backdrop of debates over Greenland, Trump is effectively acknowledging that Russia’s war against Ukraine remains the main test for the West. For Kyiv, this signals that the Ukrainian front continues to be central in the global confrontation with Russia. Attempts to push the war into the background only play into the Kremlin’s hands.
