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Earlier today, a so-called Coalition of the Committed, largely composed of European heads of state, convened in the French capital with envoys of President Trump, hoping to achieve more headway on a durable peace agreement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a plan to end the hostilities with Russia is "nearly finalized", not a single person in that meeting wanted to endanger retaining the Washington onboard.

Yet, there was an enormous elephant in the room in that grand and glittering gathering, and the fundamental atmosphere was extremely tense.

Recall the developments of the last few days: the White House's contentious intervention in the South American nation and the US president's declaration following this, that "we need Greenland from the standpoint of national security".

This massive island is the world's biggest island – it's sixfold the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the far north but is an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Copenhagen's leader, was seated facing two key individuals speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from her EU counterparts not to alienating the US over the Arctic question, for fear that that impacts US assistance for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have much rather to compartmentalize the Arctic dispute and the negotiations on Ukraine distinct. But with the tensions mounting from Washington and Copenhagen, representatives of big EU countries at the Paris meeting issued a declaration saying: "The island is part of NATO. Stability in the Arctic must therefore be attained collectively, in partnership with NATO allies like the US".

"The decision is for Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities, and no one else, to decide on issues related to Denmark and its autonomous territory," the statement added.

The announcement was received positively by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers say it was slow to be drafted and, owing to the limited set of endorsers to the declaration, it was unable 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 sovereignty, that would have sent a resounding signal to the US," noted a European defense analyst.

Reflect on the contradiction at play at the European gathering. Several EU national and other leaders, including the alliance and the European Union, are attempting to involve the US administration in protecting the future independence of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the hostile geopolitical designs of an external actor (Russia), just after the US has entered independent Venezuela militarily, taking its president into custody, while also continuing to publicly challenging the sovereignty of a further continental ally (Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Denmark and the US are both members of the military bloc NATO. They are, according to Danish officials, exceptionally key friends. At least, they were.

The issue is, were Trump to fulfill his goal to acquire Greenland, would it represent not just an existential threat to the alliance but also a profound challenge for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Trampled Underfoot

This is far from the first instance Trump has voiced his intention to acquire Greenland. He's suggested buying it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of forcible annexation.

Recently that the landmass is "crucially located right now, it is covered with Russian and Chinese naval assets all over the place. It is imperative to have Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Copenhagen is unable to do it".

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

Pursuant to a bilateral agreement, the US maintains a strategic outpost currently on the island – founded at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has cut the total of staff there from about 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to approximately 200 and the US has often been faulted of taking its eye off the northern theater, recently.

Denmark has signaled it is willing to talk about a larger US footprint on the island and additional measures but confronted by the US President's warning of unilateral action, Frederiksen said on Monday that Washington's desire to control Greenland should be treated with gravity.

Following the American intervention in Venezuela this past few days, her fellow leaders throughout Europe are taking it seriously.

"This whole situation has just underlined – once again – Europe's basic vulnerability {