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Earlier today, a so-called Alliance of the Determined, mostly composed of EU leaders, gathered in the French capital with representatives of the Trump administration, attempting to achieve further advances on a durable settlement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a framework to end the hostilities with Russia is "largely complete", not a single person in that meeting wanted to jeopardise keeping the US onboard.

Yet, there was an colossal elephant in the room in that impressive and glittering Paris meeting, and the prevailing mood was extremely strained.

Consider the actions of the recent days: the White House's controversial intervention in Venezuela and the President Trump's assertion following this, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the standpoint of national security".

This massive island is the world's largest island – it's sixfold the area of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic region but is an self-governing territory of Copenhagen.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was sitting across from two key figures speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from European colleagues to refrain from antagonising the US over Greenland, lest that affects US assistance for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have much rather to keep the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine separate. But with the diplomatic heat rising from Washington and Copenhagen, leaders of big EU countries at the talks put out a declaration asserting: "This territory is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must therefore be attained jointly, in cooperation with treaty partners such as the United States".

"The decision is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them only, to determine on issues regarding Denmark and Greenland," the communiqué further stated.

The statement was received positively by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was slow to be formulated and, owing to the small group of endorsers to the declaration, it did not manage to project a Europe aligned in objective.

"Had there been a joint statement from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in support of Danish control, that would have delivered a resounding message to America," noted a EU foreign policy expert.

Consider the paradox at work at the France meeting. Several European national and other officials, such as the alliance and the European Union, are seeking to secure the cooperation of the US administration in protecting the future autonomy of a European country (Ukraine) against the expansionist land claims of an outside force (Moscow), on the heels of the US has entered sovereign Venezuela militarily, arresting its head of state, while also continuing to publicly undermining the sovereignty of a further EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Copenhagen and the US are both participants of the defensive pact NATO. They are, in the view of Danish officials, profoundly close allies. Previously, they were considered so.

The question 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 significant challenge for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is far from the first instance President Trump has spoken of his resolve to dominate Greenland. He's suggested buying it in the past. He's also refused to rule out forcible annexation.

Recently that the landmass is "so strategic right now, Greenland is patrolled by Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Copenhagen is unable to provide security".

Copenhagen contests that last statement. It has lately vowed to invest $4bn in Arctic security for boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a bilateral agreement, the US has a military base currently on the island – established at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has cut the figure of staff there from about 10,000 during peak Cold War operations to about 200 and the US has long been accused of overlooking the northern theater, until now.

Denmark has signaled it is willing to talk about a bigger US footprint on the territory and more but in light of the US President's assertion of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition 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 highlighted – for the umpteenth time – Europe's fundamental vulnerability {