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Just this morning, a so-called Coalition of the Committed, predominantly consisting of EU heads of state, convened in Paris with delegates of US President Donald Trump, attempting to achieve further progress on a sustainable peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to halt the conflict with Russia is "90% of the way there", nobody in that room wanted to endanger retaining the Americans engaged.

Yet, there was an immense glaring omission in that grand and sparkling Paris meeting, and the underlying atmosphere was profoundly tense.

Bear in mind the actions of the recent days: the Trump administration's contentious incursion in Venezuela and the American leader's insistence shortly thereafter, that "we need Greenland from the viewpoint of strategic interests".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's biggest island – it's 600% the area of Germany. It lies in the far north but is an autonomous territory of Denmark's.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned across from two influential figures acting for Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her EU colleagues to refrain from provoking the US over the Arctic question, in case that affects US assistance for the Ukrainian cause.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to compartmentalize the Arctic dispute and the debate on Ukraine apart. But with the diplomatic heat escalating from Washington and Denmark, representatives of leading European nations at the talks put out a declaration saying: "Greenland is part of NATO. Security in the North must therefore be attained collectively, in cooperation with treaty partners including the US".

"It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on affairs concerning Denmark and Greenland," the statement added.

The communique was received positively by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers argue it was delayed to be formulated and, because of the small set of supporters to the declaration, it failed to show a Europe aligned in purpose.

"If there had been a unified position from all 27 member states, plus NATO ally the UK, in support of Copenhagen's control, that would have delivered a resounding warning to America," commented a European defense expert.

Ponder the irony at hand at the France meeting. Several EU national and other leaders, including NATO and the EU, are attempting to involve the US administration in safeguarding the future sovereignty of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the hostile geopolitical designs of an outside force (Moscow), immediately after the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also persistently publicly challenging the autonomy of a further continental ally (Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Danish officials, exceptionally strong partners. Or were.

The issue is, if Trump were to make good on his goal to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a profound problem for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

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

Recently that the island is "so strategic right now, it is patrolled by Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Copenhagen is incapable to do it".

Copenhagen contests that assertion. It not long ago pledged to spend $4bn in Arctic security including boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a mutual pact, the US has a military base already on Greenland – established at the start of the East-West standoff. It has cut the number of personnel there from about 10,000 during the height of that era to about 200 and the US has long been accused of overlooking polar defense, until now.

Copenhagen has signaled it is willing to talk about a expanded US role on the territory and additional measures but faced with the US President's assertion of independent moves, the Danish PM said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be taken seriously.

After the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts in Europe are heeding that warning.

"This whole situation has just highlighted – yet again – Europe's basic shortcoming {