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Just this morning, a informal Alliance of the Willing, mostly composed of EU officials, met in Paris with representatives of President Trump, hoping to achieve more headway on a sustainable peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a plan to halt the hostilities with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that room desired to endanger retaining the Americans engaged.

Yet, there was an colossal unspoken issue in that grand and luxurious Paris meeting, and the fundamental atmosphere was profoundly uneasy.

Consider the actions of the last few days: the White House's controversial involvement in Venezuela and the American leader's insistence soon after, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the viewpoint of national security".

Greenland is the world's greatest island – it's sixfold the area of Germany. It lies in the Arctic but is an autonomous territory of Denmark's.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was positioned opposite two influential individuals speaking on behalf of Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European allies to refrain from alienating the US over Greenland, for fear that that impacts US backing for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have much rather to keep Greenland and the discussions on Ukraine apart. But with the political temperature escalating from Washington and Denmark, leaders of major states at the Paris meeting released a declaration asserting: "The island is part of the alliance. Security in the Arctic must therefore be secured together, in cooperation with NATO allies like the United States".

"Sovereignty is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and them only, to determine on affairs regarding Denmark and its autonomous territory," the statement continued.

The communique was welcomed by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics contend it was slow to be put together and, due to the restricted set of endorsers to the declaration, it did not manage to project a Europe in agreement in intent.

"Were there a joint statement from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to alliance partner the UK, in support of Danish control, that would have sent a resounding warning to Washington," stated a EU foreign policy analyst.

Ponder the paradox at hand at the European gathering. Multiple EU national and other leaders, including NATO and the EU, are attempting to engage the Trump administration in guaranteeing the future autonomy of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the expansionist land claims of an outside force (Russia), on the heels of the US has intervened in independent Venezuela with force, detaining its leader, while also continuing to openly challenging the sovereignty of a further European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both participants of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Copenhagen, profoundly strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, should Trump act upon his desire to bring Greenland under US control, would it constitute not just an existential threat to the alliance but also a profound crisis for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is not an isolated incident Trump has expressed his determination to control Greenland. He's floated the idea of buying it in the past. He's also not excluded a military seizure.

He insisted that the territory is "so strategic right now, it is frequented by Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. We need Greenland from the vantage point of strategic interests and Denmark is incapable to provide security".

Copenhagen strongly denies that last statement. It recently vowed to allocate $4bn in the island's defense encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US maintains a military base already on the island – established at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the number of troops there from around 10,000 during peak the confrontation to about 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting Arctic Security, until now.

Denmark has indicated it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US role on the island and more but confronted by the US President's assertion of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland should be treated with gravity.

Following the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her counterparts in Europe are heeding that warning.

"This whole situation has just highlighted – once again – Europe's fundamental weakness {