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Just this morning, a so-called Coalition of the Determined, predominantly consisting of EU officials, convened in Paris with delegates of President Trump, attempting to secure more progress on a sustainable peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a roadmap to conclude the war with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that gathering wished to risk maintaining the Americans involved.

Yet, there was an colossal elephant in the room in that opulent and sparkling Paris meeting, and the fundamental atmosphere was extremely tense.

Bear in mind the developments of the past week: the Trump administration's divisive intervention in Venezuela and the President Trump's insistence soon after, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of national security".

This massive island is the world's biggest island – it's six times the size of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic but is an semi-independent possession of Copenhagen.

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

She was subject to urging from European allies to refrain from alienating the US over Greenland, in case that undermines US assistance for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to compartmentalize Greenland and the debate on the war apart. But with the diplomatic heat rising from the White House and Denmark, representatives of major EU countries at the gathering put out a statement stating: "The island is part of NATO. Defense in the North must therefore be achieved together, in partnership with treaty partners including the America".

"The decision is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to determine on matters related to Denmark and Greenland," the declaration further stated.

The communique was welcomed by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts say it was delayed to be put together and, due to the limited group of signatories to the declaration, it was unable to demonstrate a Europe in agreement in purpose.

"Had there been a joint declaration from all 27 EU partners, along with NATO ally the UK, in support of Danish control, that would have conveyed a powerful signal to the US," commented a European foreign policy analyst.

Reflect on the irony at hand at the France meeting. Several European government and other leaders, such as NATO and the EU, are trying to involve the Trump administration in guaranteeing the future autonomy of a continental state (Ukraine) against the expansionist geopolitical designs of an outside force (Moscow), just after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela by armed intervention, taking its president into custody, while also continuing to publicly challenging the territorial integrity of another European nation (Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the defensive pact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Danish officials, profoundly key friends. Or were.

The question is, should Trump fulfill his ambition to bring Greenland under US control, would it constitute not just an existential threat to the alliance but also a profound crisis for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is not an isolated incident President Trump has voiced his resolve to dominate the Arctic island. He's suggested acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded taking it by force.

He insisted that the island is "so strategic right now, it is frequented by Russian and Chinese naval assets all over the place. We need Greenland from the vantage point of defense and Copenhagen is incapable to provide security".

Denmark strongly denies that assertion. It not long ago committed to spend $4bn in Greenland defence for boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US operates a defense installation currently on the island – founded at the start of the East-West standoff. It has cut the number of staff there from about 10,000 during peak the confrontation to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of overlooking Arctic Security, up to this point.

Denmark has indicated it is open to discussion about a bigger US role on the island and more but faced with the US President's assertion of unilateral action, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to take Greenland should be taken seriously.

Following the US administration's actions in Venezuela this past few days, her colleges throughout Europe are doing just that.

"This whole situation has just emphasized – once again – the EU's fundamental vulnerability {