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Just this morning, a so-called Group of the Determined, mostly consisting of European heads of state, gathered in Paris with envoys of the Trump administration, aiming to make additional advances on a durable peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a framework to conclude the hostilities with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that meeting wished to jeopardise retaining the US involved.

Yet, there was an enormous glaring omission in that grand and luxurious Paris meeting, and the prevailing atmosphere was exceptionally tense.

Recall the developments of the recent days: the US administration's controversial incursion in Venezuela and the American leader's declaration shortly thereafter, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the standpoint of national security".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's greatest island – it's six times the size of Germany. It is located in the Arctic region but is an autonomous region of Copenhagen.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was seated facing two influential figures speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European allies to refrain from antagonising the US over the Arctic question, lest that affects US support for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to keep Greenland and the negotiations on Ukraine apart. But with the tensions mounting from Washington and Denmark, representatives of leading states at the Paris meeting released a declaration saying: "The island is part of the alliance. Defense in the Arctic must therefore be secured together, in cooperation with treaty partners like the America".

"The decision is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to determine on issues regarding the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the communiqué further stated.

The communique was received positively by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics argue it was slow to be formulated and, owing to the restricted group of supporters to the statement, it failed to project a European Union aligned in objective.

"Were there a joint position from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to alliance partner the UK, in support of Copenhagen's authority, that would have delivered a resounding message to America," stated a EU defense specialist.

Ponder the irony at play at the Paris summit. Several EU government and other leaders, such as the alliance and the European Union, are trying to secure the cooperation of the White House in safeguarding the future sovereignty of a continental state (Ukraine) against the expansionist geopolitical designs of an foreign power (Russia), on the heels of the US has intervened in sovereign Venezuela militarily, taking its president into custody, while also still publicly undermining the territorial integrity of a different EU member (the Kingdom of 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 Copenhagen, extremely strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The question is, should Trump fulfill his desire to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an existential threat to NATO but also a significant challenge for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance Trump has spoken of his resolve to dominate the Arctic island. He's proposed purchasing it in the past. He's also not excluded taking it by force.

Recently that the territory is "vitally important right now, it is frequented by foreign naval assets all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Copenhagen is unable to provide security".

Copenhagen refutes that last statement. It recently pledged to invest $4bn in Greenland defence including boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US has a defense installation currently on the island – set up at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the total of personnel there from about 10,000 during peak the confrontation to approximately 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of neglecting Arctic Security, recently.

Denmark has indicated it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US role on the territory and additional measures but in light of the US President's assertion of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

Following the American intervention in Venezuela this past few days, her colleges in Europe are heeding that warning.

"The current crisis has just emphasized – once again – Europe's core shortcoming {