Russia Advises Trump on Greenland: 'Do What We Did in Crimea'

russia - Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov suggests Trump to follow Russia's actions in Crimea when considering Greenland's purchase.

During a press conference summarizing the developments of 2024, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov advised US President-elect Donald Trump to replicate Russia's behavior in Ukraine before starting negotiations to acquire Greenland. Lavrov emphasized the importance of consulting the local population before proceeding, similar to what Russia did in Crimea and Donbas.

Despite Lavrov claiming that Russia annexed Ukrainian territories with the consent of the local population, the reality was different. The annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and subsequent events involving armed individuals identified as Russian commandos showcased a different narrative. Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine in 2022, claiming territories through unrecognized referendums, were also criticized for lacking legitimacy.

As the melting of glaciers in Greenland due to global warming unveils mining opportunities, the interest in the region increases for exploiting resources and opening new trade routes.

Lavrov also addressed the 'TurkStream' natural gas pipeline connecting Russia and Turkey via the Black Sea during the press conference. Referring to recent attacks on the pipeline in Ukraine, Lavrov accused the US government of orchestrating terrorist attacks on energy infrastructure, aiming to disrupt projects like TurkStream.