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This very day, a informal Coalition of the Willing, mostly consisting of EU heads of state, met in Paris with representatives of US President Donald Trump, hoping to secure more headway on a sustainable settlement for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a plan to end the war with Russia is "90% of the way there", not a single person in that meeting wanted to risk keeping the Washington onboard.

Yet, there was an enormous elephant in the room in that grand and sparkling summit, and the fundamental mood was extremely tense.

Recall the developments of the past week: the Trump administration's contentious intervention in Venezuela and the President Trump's declaration soon after, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the perspective of national security".

This massive island is the world's biggest island – it's 600% the area of Germany. It is situated in the far north but is an self-governing possession of Denmark's.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was sitting facing two powerful individuals speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her EU allies to avoid provoking the US over the Greenland issue, lest that impacts US assistance for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have far preferred to separate the Arctic dispute and the discussions on Ukraine apart. But with the diplomatic heat escalating from the White House and Denmark, representatives of leading states at the talks released a communiqué stating: "This territory is part of NATO. Security in the North must therefore be attained jointly, in partnership with alliance members like the America".

"It is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to rule on issues concerning the kingdom and Greenland," the statement continued.

The communique was welcomed by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts say it was slow to be formulated and, owing to the limited set of signatories to the declaration, it did not manage to demonstrate a Europe in agreement in purpose.

"Had there been a common statement from all 27 European Union countries, plus NATO ally the UK, in defense of Danish authority, that would have delivered a powerful message to America," commented a European defense analyst.

Reflect on the paradox at hand at the France meeting. Multiple EU government and other officials, including the alliance and the EU, are attempting to involve the White House in guaranteeing the future autonomy of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the aggressive geopolitical designs of an outside force (Moscow), immediately after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also still publicly threatening the sovereignty of another European nation (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Denmark and the US are both participants of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, in the view of Copenhagen, profoundly strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, if Trump were to act upon his desire to bring Greenland under US control, would it mark not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a profound challenge for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Trampled Underfoot

This is not an isolated incident President Trump has spoken of his determination to acquire the Arctic island. He's suggested acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded a military seizure.

Recently that the territory is "vitally important right now, Greenland is frequented by foreign ships all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Denmark is incapable to do it".

Denmark contests that claim. It not long ago committed to invest $4bn in Greenland defence including boats, drones and aircraft.

Under a treaty, the US has a defense installation currently on the island – established at the beginning of the East-West standoff. It has cut the number of staff there from about 10,000 during the height of that era to about 200 and the US has long been accused of neglecting the northern theater, up to this point.

Denmark has signaled it is open to discussion about a expanded US role on the island and additional measures but in light of the US President's threat of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that the US leader's goal to control Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

Following the Washington's moves in Venezuela this weekend, her counterparts throughout Europe are doing just that.

"The current crisis has just underlined – yet again – the EU's core vulnerability {