President Vladimir Putin said on Jan. 21 that who owns Greenland is not a concern for Russia and that the United States and Denmark should settle it between themselves. He criticised Denmark's historical treatment of Greenland and signalled Moscow would not object to U.S. interest in the island. Citing the 1867 Alaska sale as a precedent and adjusting for size and inflation, Putin estimated Greenland might be worth about $1 billion.
Putin Says Greenland's Ownership Is Not Russia's Concern — Estimates Island Could Be Worth About $1 Billion
FILE PHOTO: A ship sails in Nuuk, Greenland, January 14, 2026. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photo
MOSCOW, Jan 21 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that which country owns Greenland is "of no concern" to Russia and that the United States and Denmark should resolve the matter between themselves. He criticised Denmark's historical treatment of the island and suggested Moscow would not object to U.S. interest in Greenland.
Moscow has watched with apparent satisfaction as U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to acquire Greenland widened tensions between Washington and Europe, even though any shift in the island's status could have implications for Arctic geopolitics where Russia already maintains a strong presence.
Speaking publicly about the issue for the first time, Putin dismissed the idea that Greenland's ownership should be a Russian matter and speculated about the island's monetary value. He pointed to past territorial sales as precedents and outlined a rough calculation that placed Greenland's price at about $1 billion.
"What happens in Greenland is of no concern to us whatsoever," Putin told a meeting of Russia's Security Council. "Denmark has always treated Greenland as a colony and has been quite harsh, if not cruel, towards it. But that is a different matter altogether."
One Billion Dollar Price Tag?
Putin referenced historical precedents — Russia's 1867 sale of Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million and Denmark's 1917 sale of the Virgin Islands to Washington — to illustrate how territorial transfers have happened before. Using the Alaska sale as a benchmark, and adjusting for inflation, Greenland's much larger size and changes in gold prices, he suggested a hypothetical purchase price of roughly $1 billion.
Russia's foreign ministry has reacted warily to suggestions that Moscow could have designs on Greenland, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the resource-rich island with a U.S. military presence was not "a natural part" of Denmark. At the same time, Russian officials have been cautious about publicly criticising President Trump, who has indicated interest in brokering diplomatic deals, including around the war in Ukraine.
The comments come amid broader tensions: Denmark's financial and military support for Ukraine has angered Moscow, which in 2022 claimed four Ukrainian regions. Putin concluded by saying he expected Washington and Copenhagen to work out the matter on their own.
(Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
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