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Earlier today, a self-styled Group of the Determined, predominantly composed of EU officials, met in the French capital with delegates of President Trump, aiming to achieve more headway on a durable peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a framework to conclude the war with Russia is "90% of the way there", not a single person in that meeting desired to endanger retaining the US engaged.

Yet, there was an immense glaring omission in that opulent and sparkling gathering, and the prevailing mood was profoundly tense.

Bear in mind the events of the last few days: the Trump administration's controversial involvement in the South American nation and the American leader's assertion following this, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests".

Greenland is the world's biggest island – it's 600% the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the far north but is an autonomous territory of Copenhagen.

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

She was under pressure from her EU counterparts to refrain from alienating the US over the Arctic question, lest that affects US assistance for Ukraine.

EU heads of state would have greatly desired to compartmentalize Greenland and the discussions on the war apart. But with the political temperature escalating from Washington and Denmark, leaders of leading European nations at the talks released a statement saying: "The island is part of the alliance. Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in partnership with NATO allies including the United States".

"It is for Denmark and Greenland, and no one else, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and its autonomous territory," the communiqué continued.

The announcement was greeted by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics argue it was delayed to be formulated and, due to the small set of supporters to the statement, it failed to show a Europe in agreement in intent.

"If there had been a unified declaration from all 27 European Union countries, plus alliance partner the UK, in defense of Danish sovereignty, that would have sent a strong message to Washington," commented a EU defense analyst.

Consider the paradox at work at the France meeting. Numerous EU national and other leaders, from the alliance and the European Union, are seeking to involve the Trump administration in protecting the future autonomy of a EU nation (the Eastern European nation) against the aggressive territorial ambitions of an external actor (Moscow), immediately after the US has entered sovereign Venezuela with force, taking its president into custody, while also persistently openly threatening the territorial integrity of a further European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both participants of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, in the view of Copenhagen, extremely key friends. At least, they were.

The question is, should Trump fulfill his desire to acquire Greenland, would it represent not just an severe risk to NATO but also a significant problem for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is not the first time Trump has expressed his resolve to dominate Greenland. He's floated the idea of buying it in the past. He's also refused to rule out a military seizure.

He insisted that the landmass is "vitally important right now, it is frequented by Russian and Chinese naval assets all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the standpoint of defense and Denmark is unable to handle it".

Denmark refutes that assertion. It not long ago vowed to invest $4bn in Greenland defence including boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a mutual pact, the US operates a military base already on the island – established at the onset of the Cold War. It has cut the figure of staff there from around 10,000 during peak Cold War operations to approximately 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of neglecting polar defense, up to this point.

Denmark has signaled it is open to discussion about a bigger US presence on the island and further cooperation but faced with the US President's warning of independent moves, the Danish PM said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

Following the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her colleges throughout Europe are doing just that.

"This whole situation has just emphasized – for the umpteenth time – the EU's basic weakness {