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Just this morning, a so-called Group of the Willing, predominantly made up of European officials, gathered in Paris with representatives of President Trump, aiming to secure further headway on a durable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to end the war with Russia is "90% of the way there", nobody in that meeting wished to jeopardise retaining the Washington engaged.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that impressive and sparkling Paris meeting, and the underlying mood was extremely strained.

Bear in mind the events of the past week: the White House's divisive intervention in the South American nation and the American leader's insistence shortly thereafter, that "our national security requires Greenland from the standpoint of defense".

This massive island is the world's greatest island – it's 600% the size of Germany. It lies in the Arctic but is an self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned facing two influential figures representing Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her EU allies not to alienating the US over the Arctic question, in case that affects US assistance for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to compartmentalize Greenland and the debate on the war distinct. But with the political temperature mounting from Washington and Copenhagen, leaders of major European nations at the gathering put out a declaration asserting: "The island is part of NATO. Security in the North must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with alliance members like the United States".

"The decision is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to determine on matters concerning the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the statement continued.

The communique was welcomed by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts argue it was slow to be drafted and, because of the restricted group of signatories to the declaration, it failed to show a Europe aligned in purpose.

"If there had been a unified statement from all 27 European Union countries, plus NATO ally the UK, in support of Copenhagen's authority, that would have conveyed a resounding warning to the US," stated a EU defense specialist.

Reflect on the irony at hand at the France meeting. Several European national and other leaders, such as NATO and the European Union, are attempting to engage the White House in safeguarding the future autonomy of a European country (Ukraine) against the aggressive territorial ambitions of an outside force (Russia), immediately after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela militarily, taking its president into custody, while also continuing to actively threatening the autonomy of a different continental ally (Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the defensive pact NATO. They are, as stated by Danish officials, extremely strong partners. Or were.

The issue is, should Trump make good on his desire to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a major challenge for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not the first time President Trump has voiced his resolve to acquire the Arctic island. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded a military seizure.

Recently that the landmass is "vitally important right now, it is patrolled by foreign vessels all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Copenhagen is incapable to provide security".

Denmark contests that claim. It not long ago committed to invest $4bn in Arctic security including boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US operates a strategic outpost already on Greenland – established at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the figure of staff there from about 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of taking its eye off Arctic Security, until now.

Denmark has indicated it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US presence on the island and additional measures but confronted by the US President's threat of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be treated with gravity.

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

"These developments has just underlined – once again – Europe's core shortcoming {