It’s been a long-standing Kremlin strategy to drive a permanent wedge between the United States and Europe, dividing and weakening its traditional adversaries in the West.

Russian officials and media are reacting to President Donald Trump’s push to acquire Greenland with a mix of glee and caution.

Moscow: With US President Donald Trump’s demand to acquire Greenland putting Denmark on the edge and rocking the unity of NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is not concerned about the issue.

Trump has argued that the Arctic island is critical for U.S. security given threats posed by Russia as well as China.

Russian President Vladimir Putin distanced himself from the spat over Greenland between the US, Denmark and other countries in Europe at a meeting of the National Security Council in Moscow on Wednesday.

Donald Trump has been repeatedly insisting that Greenland, a sovereign territory of Denmark, come under the United States. While Trump’s demands have drawn global attention, the real contest for Arctic dominance has been underway for decades — and Russia is far ahead.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev – who now sits as the deputy chair of Russia’s security council – warned Trump he is “running out of time” for his bid to “go down in history” by taking over the Arctic island.