President-elect Donald Trump’s recent social media posts proposing the annexation of Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal have sparked outrage among America’s allies—but in Russia, they are being celebrated as a gift to Vladimir Putin. Kremlin insiders and Russian propagandists interpret Trump’s bold statements as implicit validation of Moscow’s territorial ambitions, further aligning him with Putin’s worldview.
On Russian state TV, Trump’s remarks were met with enthusiasm. Dmitry Kiselyov, host of Vesti Nedeli (The Weekly News), remarked, “Trump isn’t joking. He is determined to expand American territorial possessions. This signals the normalization of land grabs worldwide.” According to Kiselyov, Trump’s rhetoric paves the way for Putin to further legitimize Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and even consider expanding its hold over Ukraine.
Trump has previously praised Putin’s seizure of Crimea, calling it “genius” and “savvy.” Kremlin insiders argue that Trump’s only objection to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 stems from the war’s cost and duration—not from any moral opposition to such actions.
During a recent broadcast of The Evening With Vladimir Solovyov, host Vladimir Solovyov drew direct parallels between Trump’s plans and Russia’s ambitions. “Trump politely announced that the US will be expanding its borders,” Solovyov said, adding, “If Trump can take Greenland, Panama, and Canada, why can’t Russia take back Finland, the Baltics, and Alaska?”
Experts on Russian state TV argued that Trump’s vision for territorial expansion plays directly into Putin’s hands. Military analyst Mikhail Khodaryonok declared, “Trump’s statements normalize special military operations as a tool for resolving disputes. This benefits Russia greatly.”
Politicians like Andrey Lugovoy, a member of the State Duma, hailed Trump’s rhetoric as a signal that Russia should double down on its war efforts. “Trump’s insane statements show that there’s no need for a ceasefire. The era of empires is returning,” Lugovoy said.
The Kremlin’s ultimate hope, according to insiders, is that Trump’s presidency will lead to a US-Russia détente, where Putin can personally influence Trump to legitimize Moscow’s territorial claims. Russian propagandists, including Solovyov, dismissed the idea of engaging with Trump’s Ukraine envoy, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, in favor of direct talks between the two leaders.
For Putin, Trump’s statements serve a dual purpose: destabilizing America’s alliances while creating a precedent for Russia to expand its empire. Dmitry Kulikov, a Russian political scientist, summed it up: “Trump has buried the collective West. His moves make it clear—this is the era of the strong.”
As the world watches Trump’s early moves with unease, it’s clear that his actions are already emboldening Putin’s ambitions, giving Russia a roadmap to exploit global instability for its own gain.
