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Just this morning, a so-called Coalition of the Determined, largely consisting of European officials, met in the French capital with delegates of the Trump administration, hoping to make additional progress on a lasting settlement for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a framework to conclude the war with Russia is "largely complete", no-one in that gathering desired to jeopardise retaining the US engaged.

Yet, there was an colossal elephant in the room in that grand and sparkling Paris meeting, and the underlying tension was exceptionally uneasy.

Bear in mind the events of the past week: the White House's contentious intervention in Venezuela and the President Trump's insistence shortly thereafter, that "our national security requires Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests".

Greenland is the world's greatest island – it's sixfold the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the Arctic region but is an self-governing region of Denmark's.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was sitting opposite two influential personalities speaking on behalf of Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from European colleagues not to antagonising the US over Greenland, lest that affects US assistance for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to keep the Arctic dispute and the discussions on Ukraine distinct. But with the political temperature escalating from the White House and Denmark, leaders of major states at the talks released a statement stating: "Greenland is part of the alliance. Stability in the Arctic must therefore be secured together, in partnership with alliance members like the United States".

"Sovereignty is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and them alone, to rule on matters regarding the kingdom and Greenland," the statement continued.

The statement was greeted by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers argue it was delayed to be drafted and, due to the limited group of signatories to the declaration, it was unable to demonstrate a Europe united in intent.

"Had there been a common declaration from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to alliance partner the UK, in support of Danish authority, that would have delivered a strong message to Washington," noted a EU defense expert.

Consider the contradiction at work at the France meeting. Several EU government and other officials, including the alliance and the EU, are trying to involve the White House in protecting the future independence of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the aggressive land claims of an foreign power (Moscow), just after the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, detaining its leader, while also still openly undermining the territorial integrity of a different continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the defensive pact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, profoundly close allies. Previously, they were considered so.

The issue is, should Trump fulfill his goal to assert control over the island, would it mark not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a profound problem for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance President Trump has spoken of his determination to control the Arctic island. He's proposed buying it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of a military seizure.

He insisted that the landmass is "vitally important right now, it is patrolled by foreign vessels all over the place. We need Greenland from the perspective of national security and Copenhagen is unable to do it".

Denmark refutes that claim. It recently committed to allocate $4bn in the island's defense including boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a mutual pact, the US has a defense installation already on the island – founded at the onset of the Cold War. It has cut the total of troops there from about 10,000 during peak Cold War operations to approximately 200 and the US has long been accused of taking its eye off the northern theater, recently.

Denmark has suggested it is willing to talk about a larger US role on the island and further cooperation but faced with the US President's assertion of independent moves, Frederiksen said on Monday that the US leader's goal to acquire Greenland should be treated with gravity.

Following the US administration's actions in Venezuela this weekend, her colleges across Europe are taking it seriously.

"The current crisis has just highlighted – for the umpteenth time – the EU's core weakness {