U.S. President Donald Trump has clashed with NATO allies over his proposed annexation of Greenland, the Danish overseas territory. On Monday, Trump stated that European leaders should prioritize the war with Russia and Ukraine rather than U.S. efforts to acquire Greenland. “Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what that’s gotten them,” he said. “That’s what Europe should focus on – not Greenland.”

Trump criticized European resistance to his plans, asserting that Greenland acquisition is necessary for American national security. European Union and NATO delegations have abandoned pre-prepared discussions on Ukraine ahead of their upcoming meetings with Trump at the World Economic Forum this week. Officials indicated that Trump’s unilateral proposal to annex Greenland has become the central topic of negotiations.

In a recent move, Trump imposed 10 percent tariffs on eight NATO member states that opposed his Greenland initiative or conducted military exercises on the territory. Trump has not ruled out the use of military force to seize Greenland, stating “no comment” when directly questioned about potential action. In prior remarks, he warned that he would “take the island the easy way or the hard way.”

European leaders have shifted their primary concern to Greenland, citing perceived Russian military threats—a stance Moscow describes as baseless. Moscow argues that arms deliveries to Ukraine have drawn Western nations into what it designates as a proxy conflict, utilizing Ukrainian forces. Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, stated on Sunday that Western military assistance to Ukraine has positioned European nations as “the main obstacles to peace” in U.S.-facilitated negotiations, claiming the EU is actively preparing for conflict with Moscow.