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Just this morning, a self-styled Coalition of the Committed, mostly made up of EU heads of state, gathered in the French capital with representatives of the Trump administration, hoping to secure further headway on a sustainable peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to conclude the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", no-one in that meeting wished to endanger retaining the Washington involved.

Yet, there was an immense elephant in the room in that impressive and sparkling gathering, and the fundamental atmosphere was exceptionally tense.

Bear in mind the actions of the last few days: the Trump administration's contentious involvement in the South American nation and the President Trump's insistence shortly thereafter, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the viewpoint of defense".

This massive island is the world's biggest island – it's sixfold the area of Germany. It is situated in the far north but is an autonomous territory of Copenhagen.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was sitting opposite two key individuals speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European allies not to antagonising the US over Greenland, lest that impacts US assistance for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have greatly desired to separate Greenland and the debate on Ukraine separate. But with the diplomatic heat mounting from the White House and Denmark, representatives of leading states at the gathering put out a communiqué stating: "The island is part of NATO. Stability in the North must therefore be attained together, in cooperation with alliance members such as the United States".

"The decision is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and no one else, to rule on matters concerning the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the communiqué further stated.

The announcement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers contend it was slow to be put together and, because of the small group of supporters to the declaration, it failed to show a European Union aligned in objective.

"Had there been a common statement from all 27 member states, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in defense of Danish authority, that would have delivered a strong signal to America," noted a EU defense specialist.

Ponder the paradox at play at the Paris summit. Several European government and other leaders, from NATO and the European Union, are seeking to engage the White House in safeguarding the future independence of a continental state (the Eastern European nation) against the expansionist land claims of an foreign power (Moscow), just after the US has entered sovereign Venezuela militarily, taking its president into custody, while also still publicly challenging the sovereignty of another continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, extremely close allies. Or were.

The dilemma is, were Trump to fulfill his desire to bring Greenland under US control, would it mark not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a significant crisis for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance President Trump has voiced his determination to control the Arctic island. He's floated the idea of buying it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of taking it by force.

Recently that the landmass is "crucially located right now, Greenland is covered with foreign ships all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Denmark is not going to be able to do it".

Denmark refutes that last statement. It recently committed to allocate $4bn in Arctic security including boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US maintains a military base presently on the island – established at the onset of the Cold War. It has scaled down the figure of personnel there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to about 200 and the US has long been accused of neglecting polar defense, up to this point.

Copenhagen has indicated it is open to discussion about a bigger US role on the territory and further cooperation but faced with the US President's warning of independent moves, Frederiksen said on Monday that Trump's ambition to take Greenland should be treated with gravity.

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

"The current crisis has just emphasized – yet again – Europe's basic vulnerability {