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Earlier today, a so-called Coalition of the Determined, predominantly consisting of EU officials, gathered in Paris with envoys of President Trump, aiming to secure additional progress on a durable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to halt the conflict with Russia is "largely complete", nobody in that gathering wished to jeopardise keeping the Washington engaged.

Yet, there was an immense glaring omission in that impressive and glittering gathering, and the fundamental atmosphere was profoundly tense.

Bear in mind the actions of the recent days: the US administration's controversial intervention in Venezuela and the President Trump's assertion shortly thereafter, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the standpoint of national security".

This massive island is the world's greatest island – it's six times the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the Arctic but is an self-governing possession of Copenhagen.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned across from two powerful figures representing Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European colleagues to refrain from alienating the US over Greenland, lest that affects US support for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to keep Greenland and the discussions on Ukraine separate. But with the diplomatic heat rising from the White House and Denmark, leaders of big EU countries at the talks issued a declaration asserting: "The island is part of the alliance. Security in the North must therefore be attained together, in partnership with NATO allies such as the US".

"It is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to rule on issues regarding Denmark and Greenland," the statement further stated.

The statement was received positively by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers say it was delayed to be drafted and, owing to the restricted set of signatories to the declaration, it failed to demonstrate a Europe aligned in intent.

"If there had been a common declaration from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to alliance partner the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's control, that would have delivered a strong signal to America," commented a European defense specialist.

Reflect on the irony at play at the Paris summit. Several European government and other officials, including the alliance and the EU, are seeking to secure the cooperation of the US administration in protecting the future independence of a European country (Ukraine) against the aggressive territorial ambitions of an foreign power (Russia), immediately after the US has intervened in sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, detaining its leader, while also continuing to openly undermining the autonomy of a further continental ally (Denmark).

To compound the situation – Denmark and the US are both members of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Copenhagen, extremely key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, should Trump act upon his desire to bring Greenland under US control, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a major challenge for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not an isolated incident Trump has expressed his resolve to acquire the Arctic island. He's proposed buying it in the past. He's also not excluded a military seizure.

On Sunday that the island is "so strategic right now, it is patrolled by foreign ships all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Denmark is unable to provide security".

Copenhagen strongly denies that last statement. It has lately vowed to allocate $4bn in Greenland defence encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a mutual pact, the US operates a military base currently on the island – founded at the onset of the Cold War. It has reduced the figure of troops there from about 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to approximately 200 and the US has long been accused of neglecting Arctic Security, up to this point.

Copenhagen has indicated it is amenable to dialogue about a larger US footprint on the territory and further cooperation but confronted by the US President's warning of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that Trump's ambition to control Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

Following the American intervention in Venezuela this weekend, her colleges in Europe are taking it seriously.

"These developments has just highlighted – yet again – the EU's fundamental shortcoming {