Russia has strategic national interests in the Arctic, a Kremlin spokesman said today in response to a question about US newly elected President Donald Trump‘s comments on the US acquisition of Greenland, making Canada a US state and taking control of the Panama Canal.

Trump, who takes office as president on January 20, has refused to rule out military or economic action to achieve the acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland as part of a broader expansionist agenda he has been pushing since winning the November US presidential election.

Trump also floated the idea of turning Canada into a US state and promised to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Russia, which has the longest coastline in the Arctic, is closely monitoring the “dramatic development” of the situation, a Kremlin spokesman said in response to a question about Trump’s comments on Greenland and Canada.

“The Arctic is an area of our national interests, our strategic interests, Dmitry Peskov noted. “We are interested in maintaining the atmosphere of peace and stability in the Arctic region.”

“We are following very closely the very dramatic development of the situation, however, for the time being, thank God, at the level of statements,” he added.

Peskov noted that US attempts to acquire Greenland, which date back to the 19th century, are the business of the US and Denmark, noting, however, that Europe is reacting very cautiously to Trump’s statements.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed surprise at Trump’s comments on Greenland and Canada and noted that European partners agree that the inviolability of borders is a fundamental principle of international law.

Asked about Trump’s comments about the Panama Canal, which the US built before handing it over to Panama in 1999, the Kremlin said it had heard them, but that it was a matter for the US and Panama.