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This very day, a so-called Group of the Determined, mostly consisting of EU officials, met in Paris with envoys of President Trump, aiming to make more advances on a durable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a framework to halt the war with Russia is "largely complete", not a single person in that gathering desired to endanger retaining the Americans engaged.

Yet, there was an enormous unspoken issue in that opulent and glittering gathering, and the fundamental mood was profoundly tense.

Consider the actions of the recent days: the Trump administration's divisive intervention in the South American nation and the US president's insistence following this, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of national security".

Greenland is the world's greatest island – it's 600% the dimensions of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic but is an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark.

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

She was under pressure from her EU counterparts to refrain from alienating the US over the Arctic question, in case that undermines US support for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to separate Greenland and the discussions on Ukraine separate. But with the political temperature mounting from the White House and Denmark, representatives of leading European nations at the talks released a declaration stating: "This territory is part of NATO. Security in the North must therefore be achieved together, in conjunction with treaty partners like the America".

"It is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and them only, to determine on affairs concerning Denmark and Greenland," the statement further stated.

The statement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers argue it was delayed to be put together and, because of the limited set of supporters to the declaration, it did not manage to show a Europe in agreement in intent.

"Were there a common position from all 27 member states, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in backing of Danish control, that would have conveyed a powerful warning to the US," stated a European foreign policy specialist.

Ponder the irony at play at the Paris summit. Numerous EU national and other officials, including the alliance and the European Union, are seeking to involve the Trump administration in guaranteeing the future sovereignty of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the hostile territorial ambitions of an foreign power (Moscow), just after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela with force, taking its president into custody, while also still openly threatening the sovereignty of another continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To compound the situation – Denmark and the US are both members of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, in the view of Copenhagen, exceptionally strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The question is, should Trump make good on his ambition to acquire Greenland, would it mark not just an existential threat to NATO but also a profound challenge for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Overlooked

This is not an isolated incident President Trump has expressed his intention to acquire the Arctic island. He's proposed acquiring it in the past. He's also refused to rule out a military seizure.

He insisted that the territory is "vitally important right now, it is patrolled by Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Denmark is unable to provide security".

Copenhagen refutes that last statement. It has lately committed to allocate $4bn in the island's defense for boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a mutual pact, the US operates a defense installation already on the island – established at the beginning of the Cold War. It has scaled down the figure of staff there from around 10,000 during the height of that era to around 200 and the US has long been accused of taking its eye off Arctic Security, up to this point.

Denmark has suggested it is willing to talk about a larger US presence on the island and further cooperation but in light of the US President's assertion of unilateral action, Frederiksen said on Monday that Washington's desire to acquire Greenland should be treated with gravity.

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

"These developments has just emphasized – yet again – the EU's basic shortcoming {