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Just this morning, a informal Group of the Committed, largely consisting of EU heads of state, convened in the French capital with delegates of US President Donald Trump, attempting to secure more headway on a durable settlement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a plan to end the hostilities with Russia is "largely complete", nobody in that room wanted to jeopardise retaining the Washington involved.

Yet, there was an immense glaring omission in that opulent and sparkling gathering, and the prevailing atmosphere was extremely strained.

Recall the actions of the recent days: the White House's divisive intervention in Venezuela and the US president's assertion following this, that "we need Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

This massive island is the world's largest island – it's sixfold the area of Germany. It is situated in the far north but is an semi-independent possession of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned facing two influential figures speaking on behalf of Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European allies to avoid antagonising the US over the Arctic question, lest that undermines US assistance for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have much rather to separate Greenland and the discussions on Ukraine separate. But with the tensions escalating from the White House and Copenhagen, leaders of leading states at the Paris meeting put out a communiqué stating: "This territory is part of the alliance. Defense in the North must therefore be achieved jointly, in conjunction with alliance members like the United States".

"Sovereignty is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them alone, to determine on affairs concerning Denmark and its autonomous territory," the statement continued.

The statement was received positively by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts argue it was slow to be formulated and, owing to the limited number of endorsers to the declaration, it was unable to demonstrate a Europe united in intent.

"If there had been a joint statement from all 27 EU partners, along with alliance partner the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's authority, that would have sent a resounding warning to America," stated a European defense analyst.

Ponder the contradiction at play at the European gathering. Multiple European national and other leaders, including NATO and the European Union, are trying to involve the Trump administration in protecting the future autonomy of a European country (Ukraine) against the aggressive land claims of an foreign power (Moscow), just after the US has swooped into independent Venezuela with force, detaining its leader, while also persistently actively undermining the sovereignty of a different European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the defensive pact NATO. They are, in the view of Danish officials, profoundly close allies. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, were Trump to make good on his desire to assert control over the island, would it mark not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a significant challenge for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

This is not an isolated incident Trump has spoken of his intention to dominate the Arctic island. He's proposed acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded forcible annexation.

Recently that the landmass is "so strategic right now, it is patrolled by Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the standpoint of defense and Denmark is unable to provide security".

Denmark refutes that assertion. It has lately committed to invest $4bn in the island's defense for boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a mutual pact, the US operates a strategic outpost already on Greenland – established at the onset of the Cold War. It has reduced the total of personnel there from around 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to around 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting polar defense, until now.

Denmark has signaled it is willing to talk about a larger US presence on the territory and more but confronted by the US President's assertion of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

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

"This whole situation has just underlined – yet again – the EU's core shortcoming {