The Kremlin on Thursday said that Russia had strategic national interests in the Arctic when asked to comment on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's remarks about acquiring Greenland, absorbing Canada and taking control of the Panama Canal.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Russia is closely monitoring the situation, after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out military action to take Greenland from Denmark. Peskov said the Arctic was in Russia's "sphere of national and strategic interests and it is interested in peace and stability there".

"I don't know what he what he means by that," Florida Senator Rick Scott said when asked about Trump's Greenland comments.

The president noted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is “not just maintaining his investments in aggression but doubling them.” Read also: Captured Russian marine exposes North Korean troop wipeout in Kursk Oblast - video “He has even started hiring soldiers from North Korea to continue this war.

As the war in Ukraine continues, countries involved in the conflict are facing significant losses. One of these nations is North Korea, which has sent soldiers to support Russia. The situation has been discussed recently by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.