The Kremlin said Thursday that it's keeping a close eye on President-elect Donald Trump's ongoing pursuit of Greenland.

Donald Trump has refused to rule out using military force to seize the world's largest island, and the Kremlin's concern is no surprise, given the Arctic's growing economic and geopolitical significance to Moscow.

The Kremlin says it’s watching with “great interest” President-elect Trump’s ambitions for the U.S. to acquire Greenland. Trump declined to rule out using military force in his pursuit of Greenland this week,

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.

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said on Friday he was ready to speak with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has said he wants control over the Arctic island, and urged respect for the island's independence aspirations.

Russia says it is closely watching the situation with Greenland, following US President-elect Donald Trump’s refusal to rule out military or economic measures to take control of the territory from Denmark.

Vladimir Putin has warned Donald Trump that Russia is watching his moves "very closely" as the President-elect eyes up taking control of Greenland. The Russian President's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the situation unfolding in the Arctic territory was "rather dramatic" in a fresh statement on Thursday - and couldn not resist a swipe at a "timid"

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia is closely monitoring the situation surrounding Greenland, as Donald Trump continues to express interest in acquiring the Danish-controlled territory.