The European Union is ready to replace the US as leader of military support for Ukraine “if the United States does not wish to do so,” European diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas said eleven days before Donald Trump’s inauguration, but added that she is “confident” that “Washington will continue its support for Ukraine.”

“Whoever the president of the United States is, I don’t think it’s in America’s interest for Russia to be the strongest power in the world,” Kaja Kallas said ahead of a meeting of a “contact group” of Kyiv allies in Ramstein, Germany.

Referring to Trump’s expansionist appetites, Kaja Kallas said Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected.

“Greenland belongs to Denmark (…), we have to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Greenland,” she said in response to questions from reporters.

The European diplomatic chief also said she had a conversation with Danish Prime Minister Mete Frederiksen yesterday. “She assured me that relations between Denmark and the United States are good…She also told me that it is good that the (newly elected US) president is interested in the Arctic, which is an important region, both in terms of security and in terms of climate change…”