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This very day, a informal Alliance of the Willing, predominantly made up of European leaders, gathered in Paris with representatives of the Trump administration, attempting to achieve further progress on a sustainable settlement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a roadmap to end the war with Russia is "90% of the way there", nobody in that meeting wanted to risk retaining the Americans engaged.

Yet, there was an immense unspoken issue in that opulent and glittering summit, and the fundamental atmosphere was extremely uneasy.

Consider the developments of the last few days: the US administration's contentious involvement in the South American nation and the American leader's assertion following this, that "we need Greenland from the perspective of national security".

Greenland is the world's biggest island – it's six times the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the Arctic but is an semi-independent possession of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was positioned opposite two powerful individuals acting for Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European counterparts to refrain from alienating the US over the Arctic question, in case that impacts US assistance for the Ukrainian cause.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to separate the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on the war apart. But with the political temperature rising from the White House and Denmark, representatives of big EU countries at the talks issued a statement asserting: "Greenland is part of NATO. Stability in the North must therefore be secured together, in partnership with alliance members including the US".

"Sovereignty is for Denmark and Greenland, and no one else, to determine on matters concerning Denmark and its autonomous territory," the communiqué added.

The announcement was welcomed by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts contend it was delayed to be formulated and, owing to the restricted number of supporters to the declaration, it was unable to demonstrate a European Union aligned in purpose.

"Were there a common declaration from all 27 member states, plus alliance partner the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's authority, that would have sent a powerful message to the US," commented a European defense specialist.

Reflect on the contradiction at work at the Paris summit. Numerous EU national and other leaders, from NATO and the EU, are seeking to involve the Trump administration in guaranteeing the future sovereignty of a European country (the Eastern European nation) against the hostile territorial ambitions of an foreign power (Russia), just after the US has intervened in sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, arresting its head of state, while also persistently actively threatening the sovereignty of another EU member (Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both signatories of the transatlantic alliance NATO. They are, as stated by Copenhagen, profoundly strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, were Trump to act upon his ambition to assert control over the island, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to NATO but also a major problem for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance Trump has spoken of his intention to control Greenland. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of a military seizure.

He insisted that the territory is "crucially located right now, it is covered with foreign vessels all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the perspective of defense and Denmark is unable to do it".

Copenhagen contests that claim. It not long ago committed to spend $4bn in Greenland defence encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a treaty, the US has a military base already on the island – set up at the onset of the Cold War. It has reduced the total of troops there from about 10,000 during peak the confrontation to around 200 and the US has long been accused of overlooking Arctic Security, up to this point.

Copenhagen has suggested it is amenable to dialogue about a expanded US presence on the island and additional measures but faced with the US President's assertion of unilateral action, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to control Greenland should be treated with gravity.

In the wake of the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her colleges in Europe are heeding that warning.

"These developments has just highlighted – once again – the EU's basic weakness {