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Earlier today, a so-called Coalition of the Committed, largely composed of EU heads of state, convened in the French capital with delegates of US President Donald Trump, attempting to achieve more advances on a sustainable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that a plan to end the hostilities with Russia is "90% of the way there", no-one in that gathering wanted to endanger maintaining the US engaged.

Yet, there was an immense glaring omission in that impressive and sparkling Paris meeting, and the fundamental mood was extremely tense.

Consider the actions of the past week: the Trump administration's controversial incursion in Venezuela and the President Trump's insistence soon after, that "our national security requires Greenland from the viewpoint of national security".

This massive island is the world's biggest island – it's sixfold the size of Germany. It is located in the Arctic but is an self-governing possession of Denmark's.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was positioned across from two powerful personalities speaking on behalf of Trump: emissary Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was subject to urging from European counterparts not to alienating the US over the Greenland issue, in case that impacts US assistance for Ukraine.

The continent's officials would have much rather to separate the Arctic dispute and the discussions on Ukraine apart. But with the political temperature rising from the White House and Copenhagen, leaders of big states at the talks put out a statement asserting: "The island is part of the alliance. Stability in the North must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with treaty partners such as the America".

"Sovereignty is for Denmark and Greenland, and them alone, to rule on issues related to the kingdom and its autonomous territory," the statement further stated.

The statement was welcomed by the island's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics contend it was tardy to be drafted and, owing to the small group of supporters to the statement, it was unable to project a Europe aligned in intent.

"If there had been a common position from all 27 member states, along with alliance partner the UK, in defense of Copenhagen's control, that would have sent a resounding signal to America," noted a EU foreign policy specialist.

Consider the contradiction at hand at the France meeting. Multiple European government and other leaders, from the alliance and the European Union, are attempting to involve the Trump administration in safeguarding the future independence of a continental state (Ukraine) against the expansionist territorial ambitions of an external actor (Moscow), on the heels of the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela with force, detaining its leader, while also continuing to publicly threatening the territorial integrity of a further continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To make matters even more stark – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the military bloc the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Danish officials, exceptionally strong partners. Or were.

The dilemma is, were Trump to fulfill his desire to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an fundamental challenge to the alliance but also a major problem for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is far from the first instance President Trump has expressed his resolve to control the Arctic island. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also refused to rule out forcible annexation.

Recently that the island is "vitally important right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese naval assets all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the vantage point of strategic interests and Denmark is not going to be able to provide security".

Denmark strongly denies that last statement. It not long ago pledged to spend $4bn in Greenland defence for boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a treaty, the US operates a military base presently on the island – founded at the onset of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the figure of troops there from approximately 10,000 during the height of that era to approximately 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of overlooking the northern theater, until now.

Copenhagen has indicated it is willing to talk about a expanded US footprint 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 Trump's ambition to control Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

After the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her fellow leaders in Europe are doing just that.

"These developments has just highlighted – once again – Europe's core shortcoming {