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Earlier today, a so-called Group of the Determined, largely consisting of European leaders, convened in the French capital with representatives of President Trump, aiming to secure additional advances on a sustainable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a framework to halt the conflict with Russia is "largely complete", not a single person in that gathering desired to jeopardise retaining the US engaged.

Yet, there was an enormous glaring omission in that grand and sparkling gathering, and the underlying mood was profoundly uneasy.

Recall the developments of the recent days: the Trump administration's controversial incursion in the South American nation and the President Trump's assertion soon after, that "it is essential to have Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's largest island – it's 600% the area of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic region but is an semi-independent possession of Denmark's.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was seated facing two influential personalities acting for Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European counterparts to avoid antagonising the US over the Arctic question, lest that undermines US assistance for Ukraine.

EU heads of state would have much rather to compartmentalize the Arctic dispute and the discussions on Ukraine separate. But with the diplomatic heat rising from Washington and Denmark, leaders of major EU countries at the gathering put out a communiqué asserting: "Greenland is part of NATO. Defense in the Arctic must therefore be achieved jointly, in conjunction with alliance members like the United States".

"Sovereignty is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and them only, to rule on affairs related to the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the statement continued.

The statement was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but analysts argue it was tardy to be put together and, owing to the small number of supporters to the statement, it was unable to show a Europe in agreement in objective.

"Had there been a unified declaration from all 27 member states, in addition to NATO ally the UK, in support of Copenhagen's control, that would have sent a powerful warning to the US," commented a European defense analyst.

Consider the irony at play at the Paris summit. Several EU government and other leaders, such as the alliance and the EU, are seeking to secure the cooperation of the White House in safeguarding the future autonomy of a continental state (Ukraine) against the expansionist territorial ambitions of an external actor (Moscow), immediately after the US has intervened in independent Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also continuing to actively threatening the autonomy of another continental ally (Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the defensive pact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, in the view of Copenhagen, profoundly strong partners. Previously, they were considered so.

The question is, were Trump to act upon his ambition to assert control over the island, would it mark not just an severe risk to the alliance but also a significant problem for the EU?

Europe Risks Being Overlooked

This is not an isolated incident Trump has spoken of his resolve to control Greenland. He's floated the idea of purchasing it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of forcible annexation.

On Sunday that the landmass is "crucially located right now, Greenland is covered with foreign naval assets all over the place. We need Greenland from the vantage point of national security and Copenhagen is incapable to handle it".

Denmark refutes that claim. It recently vowed to allocate $4bn in Arctic security encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a bilateral agreement, the US has a defense installation currently on Greenland – established at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has cut the number of troops there from around 10,000 during peak that era to about 200 and the US has long been accused of neglecting polar defense, until now.

Denmark has signaled it is willing to talk about a expanded US footprint on the island and further cooperation but in light of the US President's warning of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to take Greenland should be treated with gravity.

Following the US administration's actions in Venezuela this past few days, her fellow leaders throughout Europe are doing just that.

"The current crisis has just emphasized – for the umpteenth time – Europe's core vulnerability {