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Just this morning, a so-called Group of the Committed, mostly composed of European leaders, met in Paris with representatives of the Trump administration, hoping to achieve more advances on a lasting peace deal for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a framework to end the hostilities with Russia is "largely complete", no-one in that meeting desired to jeopardise retaining the Washington involved.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that impressive and luxurious Paris meeting, and the fundamental mood was exceptionally strained.

Bear in mind the actions of the recent days: the White House's divisive incursion in Venezuela and the President Trump's assertion shortly thereafter, that "our national security requires Greenland from the viewpoint of national security".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's largest island – it's 600% the area of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic but is an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was sitting opposite two powerful individuals acting for Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European allies not to provoking the US over the Arctic question, lest that affects US support for the Ukrainian cause.

The continent's officials would have much rather to compartmentalize the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine separate. But with the diplomatic heat mounting from Washington and Copenhagen, representatives of leading European nations at the talks released a statement asserting: "The island is part of the alliance. Security in the Arctic must therefore be secured collectively, in cooperation with alliance members like the US".

"It is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them only, to rule on issues concerning Denmark and its autonomous territory," the declaration further stated.

The communique was received positively by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics contend it was slow to be drafted and, due to the small number of endorsers to the declaration, it did not manage to project a Europe united in intent.

"Had there been a common statement from all 27 member states, in addition to alliance partner the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's sovereignty, that would have sent a strong message to the US," commented a European foreign policy analyst.

Ponder the paradox at play at the France meeting. Several EU national and other leaders, from the alliance and the EU, are attempting to secure the cooperation of the Trump administration in guaranteeing the future sovereignty of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the expansionist geopolitical designs of an outside force (Moscow), just after the US has entered independent Venezuela militarily, detaining its leader, while also still openly threatening the territorial integrity of a different EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Copenhagen and the US are both participants of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Danish officials, exceptionally close allies. At least, they were.

The issue is, were Trump to fulfill his desire to assert control over the island, would it represent not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a major challenge for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

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

He insisted that the landmass is "crucially located right now, it is covered with foreign naval assets all over the place. We need Greenland from the vantage point of strategic interests and Copenhagen is unable to handle it".

Copenhagen strongly denies that assertion. It not long ago committed to allocate $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a bilateral agreement, the US operates a military base presently on the island – established at the start of the Cold War. It has reduced the number of personnel there from around 10,000 during peak that era to about 200 and the US has long been accused of neglecting Arctic Security, up to this point.

Copenhagen has suggested it is open to discussion about a larger US presence on the territory and further cooperation but faced with 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 treated with gravity.

After the American intervention in Venezuela this weekend, her colleges across Europe are doing just that.

"These developments has just highlighted – once again – the EU's core shortcoming {