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This very day, a so-called Alliance of the Determined, largely consisting of European officials, gathered in Paris with envoys of the Trump administration, aiming to achieve additional advances on a lasting peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to end the war with Russia is "nearly finalized", not a single person in that gathering wished to risk retaining the US onboard.

Yet, there was an colossal unspoken issue in that opulent and luxurious Paris meeting, and the fundamental mood was extremely tense.

Bear in mind the actions of the recent days: the Trump administration's divisive involvement in Venezuela and the President Trump's declaration shortly thereafter, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests".

Greenland is the world's largest island – it's six times the area of Germany. It is located in the Arctic but is an semi-independent region of Copenhagen.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was sitting facing two key individuals speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU colleagues not to antagonising the US over the Arctic question, in case that affects US support for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have far preferred to compartmentalize Greenland and the negotiations on the war distinct. But with the tensions rising from Washington and Copenhagen, representatives of leading European nations at the Paris meeting released a communiqué saying: "The island is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must therefore be secured collectively, in cooperation with NATO allies such as the America".

"The decision is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and no one else, to determine on matters regarding the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the declaration further stated.

The statement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was delayed to be put together and, owing to the small group of signatories to the declaration, it failed to show a Europe in agreement in purpose.

"If there had been a common declaration from all 27 EU partners, along with NATO ally the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's authority, that would have sent a strong message to the US," commented a EU defense expert.

Ponder the paradox at hand at the Paris summit. Numerous European national and other officials, from NATO and the European Union, are seeking to involve the Trump administration in protecting the future independence of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the hostile geopolitical designs of an outside force (Moscow), on the heels of the US has intervened in sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, detaining its leader, while also persistently openly challenging the autonomy of a further EU member (Denmark).

To compound the situation – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the defensive pact NATO. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, exceptionally key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, if Trump were to act upon his goal to acquire Greenland, would it mark not just an fundamental challenge to NATO but also a major challenge for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

This is not an isolated incident President Trump has expressed his determination to dominate Greenland. He's suggested acquiring it in the past. He's also refused to rule out a military seizure.

On Sunday that the landmass is "so strategic right now, it is frequented by foreign vessels all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the perspective of defense and Denmark is unable to provide security".

Denmark refutes that last statement. It recently pledged to spend $4bn in the island's defense including boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US operates a military base already on the island – founded at the start of the Cold War. It has reduced the total of troops there from around 10,000 during peak the confrontation to approximately 200 and the US has often been faulted of overlooking polar defense, until now.

Denmark has signaled it is open to discussion about a expanded US presence on the island and further cooperation but faced with the US President's assertion of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to acquire Greenland should be taken seriously.

Following the American intervention in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts throughout Europe are doing just that.

"These developments has just highlighted – for the umpteenth time – the EU's core weakness {