Putin: U.S. is serious about Greenland.

Russian president says these ambitions were no surprise and should be taken seriously, followed. Periscope.

The “would be a serious mistake to think that this is just an extensive conversation of the new American administration, nothing like that,” he said.

He says similar plans were first established by Washington in the 1860s, but that a proposal to annex Greenland and Iceland was rejected by Congress.

“These plans have deep historical roots and it is clear that the US will continue to promote their geopolitical, military and economic interests in the Arctic.

I think this is a two-state issue and it's not about us.

“However, we are concerned by the fact that rising NATO countries identify the far north as a basis for possible conflicts. ”