Putin says Greenland “nothing to do with Russia” in the wink to us

In Murmansk, the largest city north of the Arctic Circle, President Vladimir Putin promised to “strengthen Russia’s global leadership in the Arctic”, while warning that “geopolitical competence in the region” intensified.

The first example was the idea of ​​Donald Trump to acquire Greenland.

But from the Kremlin leader there were no criticism of his American counterpart.

And that is revealing, while the White House and Kremlin try to rebuild relationships.

“In summary, United States plans in relation to Greenland are serious,” said President Putin in a speech of the Arctic Forum in Russia in Murmansk.

“These plans have deep historical roots. And it is clear that the United States will continue to systematically pursue their geostrategic, political and economic military interests in the time.

“As for Greenland, this is an issue for two specific countries. It has nothing to do with us.”

Then said the president who had launched A large -scale invasion of a neighboring sovereign country and claims to have annexed all the strips of Ukraine.

When Joe Biden was in the White House, Moscow and Washington were vowels in their mutual criticisms.

How things have changed.

Today Russia is promoting the idea of ​​economic cooperation with the United States in an Arctic region full of natural resources.

“We are open to consider different investment opportunities that we can do jointly with the United States, in certain sectors approved by the Russian government,” says Kirill Dmitriev, envoy of President Putin for foreign investment and economic cooperation.

Dmitriev, who is also executive director of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, has already been in conversations with US officials.

“We are open for investment cooperation in the Arctic. That could be in logistics or other beneficial areas for Russia and the United States,” adds Dmitriev.

“But before the agreements can be made, the war in Ukraine must end,” I suggest.

“Many people in the West accuse Russia of dragging their feet, not showing commitment or concessions, and simply establishing conditions.”

“I am focused on economy and investments, so I do not comment on political issues,” says Dmitriev.

“The only thing I can say is that we have a very good dialogue, and I think it is very important that the United States is trying to understand the position of Russia.”

Moscow seems safe that it can attract Washington with promises of lucrative agreements in the Arctic and Russia.

That trust is understandable considering how high US officials have been repeating Kremlin conversation points about war in Ukraine and about Europe.

In a recent one Interview with former Fox News Tucker Carlson commentatorDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff seemed to accept the results of the referendic organized by Moscow that were held in the Ukrainian territories seized and occupied by Russia.

These votes that have not been recognized by the international community.

In the words of a recent head of Russian newspapers: “American and Russian officials are now talking about the same language.”

Are the Russian authorities surprised by the marine change in Russia policy of the United States?

“(In the United States) there are two parts that compete with each other,” says Nikolai Patrushev, former head of the FSB domestic security service in Russia.

Patrushev, who is now an assistant to President Putin, is one of Russia’s most powerful figures.

While they are in the lateral lines of the Arctic Forum, he tells me: “When the Democrats were in power, they took a point of view. Republicans have another.

“It does not mean that they agree with Russia’s point of view. Only they have their own, which they promote, and we can cooperate with them.”

I ask Mr. Patrushev: “Do you have the feeling that a new world order is being forged?”

“We used to have a system where two powers dominated in the world. Then it was just one. Now we are building a multipolar world. But with its own peculiarities,” says Patrushev.

In the center of Murmansk, a giant inflatable whale has taken over one of the city’s squares.

Attached to the cables, it moves on a sea of ​​silver balloons designed to look like waves. The balloons are dancing in the wind under the explosive beast.

It is a giant installation. But then Russia has enormous ambitions, both for the Arctic and for the relations of the country with the United States.

The whale is attracting great interest with many families that pose for photos.

Is it an opportunity to ask the Russians if they support the idea of ​​economic cooperation with the United States in the Arctic and if they are surprised when Washington seems to take the side of Moscow?

Elina is not.

“Russia is strong,” she says. “You should always support the forts and continue with them.”

“We need to develop the Arctic,” Olga tells me. “Cooperation with ‘friendly countries’ is a good thing.”

“And you see the United States as a ‘friendly country’?” Asked.

“Do you know what? I can’t decide.” Olga responds.

Meanwhile, the presidential envoy Dmitriev is singing the praises of a particular American, Elon Musk, and has cooperation.

“We believe that Elon Musk is a great visionary, a great leader and a very successful person,” Dmitriev tells me. “Russia has a lot to offer for a mission to Mars because we have some nuclear technologies that can be applicable.

“There are some videoconferences that we believe will be, let’s say, the musk team.”