Zakharova assessed Trump's remarks about Greenland and Canada joining the US

US President-elect Donald Trump has not yet taken office as head of state and cannot speak for the entire country. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this on January 8, commenting on the politician's remarks regarding the accession of Greenland and Canada to the United States.

"It seems to me that it is necessary to ask him questions. Let's still say to ourselves that he has not yet taken office. <...> For the moment, it still has to be viewed from that angle. Let's treat it that way, when he becomes president, when he enters his powers, he will speak on behalf of the state and the people of the United States in an official capacity," she said on Sputnik radio.

According to the diplomat, with a number of statements, Trump "gives backward passes to what [has] been said in his address as well, as far as Canada is concerned, what he has not heard in his address."

Trump voiced the suggestion that Canada could become a new U.S. state during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Dec. 3. At the time, he added that an annexation could materialize if Ottawa failed to address illegal migration and drug smuggling.

Later, on January 7, Trump published a map with Canada annexed to the US on his Truth Social network. On the same day, he said Greenland should become part of the U.S. for national security and defense against alleged Chinese and Russian threats. At the same time, Trudeau also rejected Trump's proposal to make Canada the 51st state of the US. He emphasized that Canada and the U.S. are critical partners in trade and security and the peoples of both countries benefit from such cooperation.

In turn, Canadian Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Jan. 7 offered to acquire Alaska amid Trump's announcement. Ford added that under his watch, Canada's accession to the United States would not happen.