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Just this morning, a so-called Group of the Willing, mostly made up of European officials, convened in Paris with representatives of President Trump, attempting to secure additional progress on a lasting peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a roadmap to conclude the war with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that meeting desired to jeopardise maintaining the Americans involved.

Yet, there was an colossal glaring omission in that opulent and sparkling gathering, and the fundamental atmosphere was extremely uneasy.

Bear in mind the events of the last few days: the US administration's divisive involvement in Venezuela and the American leader's declaration following this, that "our national security requires Greenland from the viewpoint of national security".

This massive island is the world's largest island – it's 600% the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the Arctic but is an self-governing possession of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was seated across from two key figures acting for Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU counterparts not to antagonising the US over the Greenland issue, in case that affects US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to keep Greenland and the debate on Ukraine distinct. But with the political temperature rising from the White House and Denmark, leaders of major states at the talks issued a declaration stating: "The island is part of the alliance. Stability in the North must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with alliance members such as the America".

"Sovereignty is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them alone, to determine on issues regarding the kingdom and Greenland," the declaration further stated.

The communique was welcomed by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers say it was delayed to be formulated and, because of the restricted number of supporters to the statement, it failed to show a European Union united in objective.

"Were there a unified position from all 27 EU partners, along with NATO ally the UK, in defense of Danish authority, that would have delivered a resounding warning to Washington," commented a EU defense analyst.

Ponder the irony at hand at the European gathering. Multiple EU national and other leaders, such as the alliance and the EU, are attempting to involve the US administration in guaranteeing the future autonomy of a European country (the Eastern European nation) against the aggressive geopolitical designs of an foreign power (Moscow), on the heels of the US has entered sovereign Venezuela militarily, detaining its leader, while also persistently openly challenging the territorial integrity of another EU member (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the military bloc NATO. They are, according to Copenhagen, exceptionally strong partners. At least, they were.

The question is, should Trump act upon his goal to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a major crisis for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

This is not the first time Trump has voiced his determination to control the Arctic island. He's proposed acquiring it in the past. He's also refused to rule out taking it by force.

Recently that the territory is "crucially located right now, Greenland is covered with foreign vessels all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Denmark is incapable to handle it".

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

Pursuant to a treaty, the US has a strategic outpost already on the island – founded at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the figure of personnel there from about 10,000 during peak Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of overlooking polar defense, recently.

Copenhagen has signaled it is open to discussion about a expanded US presence on the island and more but faced with the US President's threat of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to take Greenland should be treated with gravity.

Following the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her colleges across Europe are taking it seriously.

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