Camilla Jessen
Kremlin figure targets von der Leyen
Tensions over Greenland have taken a sharp rhetorical turn, with a senior Russian official inserting himself into a growing dispute between Washington and Brussels.
Kirill Dmitriev, a special representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen directly in a post on X. According to Russia’s TASS news agency, cited by News.ro, he urged the EU to pull back its limited military presence in Greenland.
“Dear Ursula ‘Pfizer’ von der Leyen, don’t provoke Daddy! Withdraw the 13 soldiers sent to Greenland,” Dmitriev wrote.
He added that the United States could respond by raising customs tariffs by 1% for each European soldier stationed on the island.
Tariffs and warnings
The remarks followed fresh warnings from US President Donald Trump, who has promised to impose new tariffs on several European countries unless Washington secures what he has described as the “full and complete acquisition” of Greenland.
Trump said 10% tariffs would be imposed on imports from Britain, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, France and Sweden starting February 1. He added that the duties would rise to 25% from June 1 if no agreement is reached.
The US president has also criticised Europe’s plans to send forces to Greenland, calling it “a very dangerous game.”
EU response
Earlier, Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa warned that the proposed tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk pushing them into a “downward spiral.”
Responding to US objections over planned military exercises, they said the deployment was defensive in nature.
“The Danish exercise, coordinated in advance and carried out together with allies, responds to the need to strengthen security in the Arctic and does not pose a threat to anyone,” they said.
Strategic stakes
Greenland, a Danish territory, has taken on increased strategic importance as climate change opens Arctic routes and competition intensifies over resources and security.
Trump has repeatedly argued that US control of Greenland is necessary for national security, a position that has alarmed European allies and drawn commentary from rival powers such as Russia.
Sources: TASS, News.ro
