ZELENSKY ‘worried’ Greenland row is diverting focus from ‘full-scale war’ in Ukraine

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, January 19, expressed concern that US President Donald Trump’s push to acquire Greenland could be distracting from Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, now nearing its fourth year. Trump last week threatened European nations with tariffs of up to 25 percent for opposing the acquisition plan, a move that angered Brussels and placed fresh strain on NATO unity.

Ukraine, currently facing sustained Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure, is wary of any diplomatic rift that could weaken support from Western allies. “I’m worried about any loss of focus during a full-scale war,” Zelensky told reporters. He stressed that debates over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, should not be viewed as interchangeable with the conflict in Ukraine. “We have a full-scale war, we have a specific aggressor, and we have specific victims,” he said.

Zelensky urged Washington to engage more closely with Europe, saying: “I want very, very much America to hear Europe, to truly hear it in the format of diplomacy. I think that’s what will happen and I strongly believe there won’t be any major threats.”