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This very day, a so-called Alliance of the Determined, predominantly made up of European officials, met in the French capital with delegates of the Trump administration, aiming to achieve more progress on a durable settlement for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to halt the hostilities with Russia is "nearly finalized", nobody in that meeting wished to risk retaining the Washington onboard.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that opulent and sparkling gathering, and the fundamental atmosphere was extremely uneasy.

Consider the developments of the past week: the Trump administration's divisive incursion in Venezuela and the President Trump's declaration shortly thereafter, that "our national security requires Greenland from the viewpoint of strategic interests".

Greenland is the world's largest island – it's 600% the size of Germany. It lies in the Arctic region but is an semi-independent region of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was seated facing two key personalities representing Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from European allies to avoid antagonising the US over Greenland, for fear that that affects US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have greatly desired to separate Greenland and the debate on Ukraine distinct. But with the diplomatic heat mounting from the White House and Denmark, representatives of big European nations at the Paris meeting put out a declaration saying: "This territory is part of the alliance. Stability in the North must therefore be attained collectively, in cooperation with NATO allies including the America".

"The decision is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and them alone, to determine on issues concerning Denmark and its autonomous territory," the communiqué further stated.

The statement was welcomed by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts argue it was tardy to be formulated and, because of the small group of endorsers to the declaration, it failed to demonstrate a European Union in agreement in purpose.

"Were there a common position from all 27 member states, along with alliance partner the UK, in support of Copenhagen's control, that would have delivered a strong message to America," stated a EU defense expert.

Ponder the paradox at hand at the Paris summit. Numerous EU national and other officials, such as the alliance and the EU, are trying to secure the cooperation of the US administration in guaranteeing the future autonomy of a continental state (the Eastern European nation) against the expansionist land claims of an foreign power (Moscow), immediately after the US has swooped into independent Venezuela by armed intervention, arresting its head of state, while also still actively threatening the territorial integrity of a different European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the defensive pact NATO. They are, according to Copenhagen, exceptionally strong partners. At least, they were.

The question is, if Trump were to act upon his desire to bring Greenland under US control, would it represent not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a significant challenge for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Marginalized

This is far from the first instance Trump has voiced his intention to acquire Greenland. He's suggested buying it in the past. He's also refused to rule out a military seizure.

On Sunday that the island is "so strategic right now, it is patrolled by foreign vessels all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the vantage point of strategic interests and Copenhagen is unable to do it".

Copenhagen strongly denies that last statement. It not long ago committed to invest $4bn in Greenland defence encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US has a defense installation currently on Greenland – founded at the start of the East-West standoff. It has cut the total of personnel there from around 10,000 during the height of that era to about 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting Arctic Security, up to this point.

Denmark has signaled it is willing to talk about a larger US role on the island and more but faced with the US President's warning of independent moves, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to acquire Greenland should be taken seriously.

After the American intervention in Venezuela this past few days, her counterparts in Europe are taking it seriously.

"The current crisis has just underlined – once again – the EU's fundamental vulnerability {