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Earlier today, a informal Alliance of the Determined, predominantly composed of EU heads of state, convened in Paris with representatives of US President Donald Trump, attempting to make additional advances on a sustainable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to end the hostilities with Russia is "90% of the way there", nobody in that meeting wanted to endanger maintaining the US onboard.

Yet, there was an immense glaring omission in that impressive and sparkling gathering, and the fundamental mood was extremely strained.

Bear in mind the developments of the last few days: the Trump administration's controversial involvement in Venezuela and the US president's declaration soon after, that "we need Greenland from the standpoint of defense".

Greenland is the world's greatest island – it's six times the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the far north but is an autonomous region of Copenhagen.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was sitting opposite two influential personalities acting for Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU colleagues to refrain from provoking the US over Greenland, lest that impacts US backing for Ukraine.

EU heads of state would have far preferred to separate the Arctic dispute and the debate on Ukraine apart. But with the tensions escalating from Washington and Copenhagen, representatives of major European nations at the gathering issued a statement saying: "Greenland is part of NATO. Defense in the North must therefore be secured collectively, in cooperation with treaty partners including the United States".

"It is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and no one else, to decide on matters related to Denmark and Greenland," the statement continued.

The announcement was welcomed by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers contend it was tardy to be put together and, because of the restricted group of supporters to the statement, it failed to demonstrate a European Union united in purpose.

"Were there a unified statement from all 27 European Union countries, plus alliance partner the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's authority, that would have conveyed a strong signal to America," stated a European foreign policy expert.

Ponder the paradox at hand at the France meeting. Multiple EU government and other officials, from the alliance and the European Union, are attempting to engage the White House in protecting the future sovereignty of a European country (the Eastern European nation) against the hostile land claims of an foreign power (Moscow), on the heels of the US has entered independent Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also continuing to actively threatening the sovereignty of a different continental ally (Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the defensive pact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, extremely strong partners. At least, they were.

The dilemma is, if Trump were to act upon his goal to assert control over the island, would it mark not just an fundamental challenge to NATO but also a profound problem for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance Trump has spoken of his determination to control Greenland. He's proposed purchasing it in the past. He's also not excluded forcible annexation.

On Sunday that the landmass is "crucially located right now, Greenland is covered with foreign naval assets all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the vantage point of national security and Copenhagen is incapable to provide security".

Denmark strongly denies that claim. It not long ago pledged to invest $4bn in the island's defense encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a treaty, the US has a defense installation currently on Greenland – founded at the onset of the Cold War. It has reduced the number of staff there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of neglecting polar defense, recently.

Denmark has suggested it is amenable to dialogue about a expanded US presence on the island and more but confronted by the US President's assertion of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be treated with gravity.

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

"This whole situation has just emphasized – once again – the EU's core vulnerability {