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Earlier today, a so-called Coalition of the Determined, mostly made up of European heads of state, convened in the French capital with representatives of US President Donald Trump, hoping to secure more advances on a sustainable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a plan to conclude the conflict with Russia is "90% of the way there", nobody in that gathering wanted to endanger keeping the Washington involved.

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

Recall the developments of the recent days: the White House's divisive intervention in Venezuela and the US president's declaration following this, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the viewpoint of strategic interests".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's largest island – it's sixfold the size of Germany. It is situated in the far north but is an autonomous territory of Copenhagen.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was seated facing two powerful figures acting for Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from her EU colleagues to avoid antagonising the US over the Greenland issue, for fear that that impacts US support for the Ukrainian cause.

Europe's leaders would have greatly desired to separate the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine separate. But with the tensions rising from the White House and Denmark, leaders of major states at the talks released a communiqué saying: "This territory is part of the alliance. Security in the Arctic must therefore be attained together, in cooperation with treaty partners including the US".

"It is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to decide on affairs regarding Denmark and Greenland," the declaration continued.

The announcement was welcomed by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was slow to be formulated and, owing to the limited set of supporters to the statement, it did not manage to demonstrate a European Union united in purpose.

"Were there a common position from all 27 European Union countries, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in support of Copenhagen's control, that would have delivered a resounding warning to the US," noted a European defense specialist.

Consider the contradiction at play at the France meeting. Multiple European government and other officials, such as NATO and the EU, are attempting to involve the Trump administration in protecting the future independence of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the aggressive geopolitical designs of an foreign power (Russia), on the heels of the US has swooped into independent Venezuela militarily, taking its president into custody, while also continuing to publicly challenging the territorial integrity of a further continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Copenhagen and the US are both participants of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, extremely close allies. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, should Trump act upon his desire to bring Greenland under US control, would it mark not just an severe risk to NATO but also a major problem for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance Trump has spoken of his intention to dominate the Arctic island. He's suggested purchasing it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of taking it by force.

On Sunday that the island is "so strategic right now, it is covered with foreign naval assets all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Copenhagen is not going to be able to do it".

Denmark strongly denies that assertion. It recently vowed to spend $4bn in Greenland defence for boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a mutual pact, the US has a strategic outpost currently on the island – set up at the start of the Cold War. It has reduced the total of troops there from about 10,000 during the height of the confrontation to about 200 and the US has often been faulted of neglecting polar defense, recently.

Denmark has suggested it is amenable to dialogue about a bigger US presence on the island and additional measures but confronted by the US President's assertion of independent moves, the Danish PM said on Monday that the US leader's goal to acquire Greenland should be treated with gravity.

After the US administration's actions in Venezuela this past few days, her counterparts in Europe are taking it seriously.

"This whole situation has just emphasized – yet again – the EU's basic shortcoming {