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This very day, a so-called Alliance of the Determined, largely made up of European officials, met in the French capital with envoys of the Trump administration, hoping to secure more headway on a lasting peace deal for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a plan to conclude the conflict with Russia is "90% of the way there", not a single person in that meeting wished to risk maintaining the Washington engaged.

Yet, there was an enormous unspoken issue in that grand and luxurious gathering, and the fundamental tension was exceptionally uneasy.

Bear in mind the actions of the last few days: the Trump administration's controversial involvement in the South American nation and the American leader'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 sixfold the area of Germany. It is situated in the far north but is an semi-independent territory of Copenhagen.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was seated facing two powerful personalities speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European colleagues to avoid alienating the US over the Arctic question, lest that affects US support for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have far preferred to keep the Arctic dispute and the discussions on the war distinct. But with the diplomatic heat rising from Washington and Denmark, leaders of major states at the gathering issued a statement saying: "Greenland is part of NATO. Defense in the North must therefore be achieved jointly, in partnership with NATO allies such as the United States".

"The decision is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to decide on affairs concerning the kingdom and Greenland," the declaration added.

The communique was received positively by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts argue it was slow to be drafted and, because of the small number of supporters to the declaration, it failed to demonstrate a European Union united in objective.

"If there had been a joint declaration from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's sovereignty, that would have delivered a resounding warning to America," commented a EU defense specialist.

Consider the paradox at work at the European gathering. Several EU government and other leaders, such as the alliance and the European Union, are attempting to secure the cooperation of the Trump administration in safeguarding the future autonomy of a European country (Ukraine) against the hostile geopolitical designs of an foreign power (Russia), on the heels of the US has entered independent Venezuela militarily, detaining its leader, while also continuing to publicly undermining the sovereignty of another European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, exceptionally key friends. At least, they were.

The issue is, should Trump make good on his desire to assert control over the island, would it constitute not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a significant crisis for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

This is not an isolated incident President Trump has voiced his resolve to control Greenland. He's suggested buying it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of a military seizure.

He insisted that the island is "so strategic right now, it is patrolled by foreign naval assets all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the vantage point of defense and Denmark is incapable to provide security".

Denmark contests that claim. It has lately vowed to spend $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US operates a strategic outpost already on the island – established at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the figure of personnel there from about 10,000 during peak the confrontation to approximately 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting Arctic Security, up to this point.

Denmark has indicated it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US footprint on the island and more but in light of the US President's threat of unilateral action, the Danish PM said on Monday that the US leader's goal to take Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

After the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts in Europe are heeding that warning.

"The current crisis has just highlighted – for the umpteenth time – Europe's core weakness {