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Just this morning, a informal Group of the Willing, mostly composed of European heads of state, met in the French capital with representatives of the Trump administration, attempting to make more advances on a lasting peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a plan to conclude the conflict with Russia is "90% of the way there", no-one in that gathering desired to jeopardise keeping the US onboard.

Yet, there was an immense unspoken issue in that grand and glittering summit, and the prevailing mood was extremely strained.

Recall the events of the last few days: the Trump administration's divisive involvement in Venezuela and the US president's insistence shortly thereafter, that "we need Greenland from the perspective of national security".

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

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned facing two powerful personalities acting for Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European allies to avoid antagonising the US over Greenland, for fear that that impacts US support for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have far preferred to separate Greenland and the debate on the war distinct. But with the political temperature rising from Washington and Copenhagen, representatives of leading states at the Paris meeting released a declaration saying: "The island is part of NATO. Stability in the North must therefore be secured together, in partnership with alliance members like the United States".

"Sovereignty is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and them alone, to decide on matters regarding Denmark and Greenland," the communiqué continued.

The announcement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was tardy to be put together and, because of the restricted number of endorsers to the statement, it failed to project a Europe united in intent.

"Were there a common statement from all 27 member states, in addition to alliance partner the UK, in support of Danish authority, that would have conveyed a powerful message to the US," commented a European defense specialist.

Reflect on the irony at play at the Paris summit. Numerous EU government and other leaders, from NATO and the European Union, are seeking to secure the cooperation of the Trump administration in safeguarding the future autonomy of a EU nation (the Eastern European nation) against the hostile territorial ambitions of an outside force (Russia), immediately after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela with force, taking its president into custody, while also continuing to publicly undermining the autonomy of another continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Denmark and the US are both participants of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Danish officials, extremely strong partners. Or were.

The issue is, should Trump act upon his ambition to bring Greenland under US control, would it represent not just an fundamental challenge to NATO but also a significant problem for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is not the first time Trump has voiced his intention to dominate the Arctic island. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also refused to rule out forcible annexation.

Recently that the landmass is "vitally important right now, it is frequented by Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the perspective of national security and Denmark is unable to do it".

Copenhagen refutes that assertion. It has lately pledged to spend $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a mutual pact, the US operates a defense installation currently on the island – founded at the start 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 neglecting Arctic Security, until now.

Denmark has signaled it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US role on the island and more but confronted by the US President's threat of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

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

"The current crisis has just highlighted – yet again – Europe's core vulnerability {