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Earlier today, a so-called Group of the Willing, largely consisting of EU officials, met in Paris with envoys of President Trump, aiming to achieve further headway on a sustainable peace deal for the embattled nation.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a framework to halt the conflict with Russia is "nearly finalized", not a single person in that room desired to risk retaining the Americans involved.

Yet, there was an colossal elephant in the room in that impressive and luxurious Paris meeting, and the underlying atmosphere was profoundly strained.

Consider the actions of the recent days: the White House's controversial incursion in the South American nation and the President Trump's assertion shortly thereafter, that "our national security requires Greenland from the perspective of national security".

Greenland is the world's greatest island – it's six times the size of Germany. It lies in the Arctic but is an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the Paris meeting, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was seated across from two influential personalities speaking on behalf of Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's relative Jared Kushner.

She was facing pressure from European allies to avoid antagonising the US over the Arctic question, in case that impacts US support for Ukraine.

EU heads of state would have greatly desired to separate the Arctic dispute and the discussions on the war apart. But with the diplomatic heat rising from Washington and Denmark, leaders of big EU countries at the gathering issued a communiqué saying: "This territory is part of the alliance. Security in the North must therefore be achieved together, in conjunction with alliance members including the America".

"It is for Copenhagen and Greenland, and no one else, to determine on matters concerning Denmark and its autonomous territory," the statement added.

The announcement was greeted by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics say it was delayed to be put together and, owing to the small group of supporters to the statement, it did not manage to show a European Union in agreement in intent.

"If there had been a common statement from all 27 EU partners, in addition to alliance partner the UK, in support of Copenhagen's sovereignty, that would have sent a powerful signal to Washington," stated a European foreign policy analyst.

Ponder the irony at play at the European gathering. Numerous EU government and other leaders, such as the alliance and the European Union, are attempting to secure the cooperation of the Trump administration in guaranteeing the future independence of a European country (the Eastern European nation) against the hostile land claims of an foreign power (Russia), immediately after the US has entered sovereign Venezuela with force, arresting its head of state, while also persistently openly challenging the territorial integrity of a different EU member (Denmark).

To compound the situation – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the defensive pact NATO. They are, according to Copenhagen, exceptionally close allies. Previously, they were considered so.

The question is, should Trump make good on his ambition to acquire Greenland, would it represent not just an fundamental challenge to NATO but also a major crisis for the European Union?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Overlooked

This is far from the first instance Trump has voiced his resolve to acquire Greenland. He's floated the idea of buying it in the past. He's also left open the possibility of taking it by force.

On Sunday that the territory is "so strategic right now, Greenland is covered with foreign vessels all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests and Copenhagen is incapable to handle it".

Copenhagen refutes that last statement. It recently pledged to invest $4bn in the island's defense for boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a bilateral agreement, the US operates a military base presently on Greenland – founded at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the figure of personnel there from around 10,000 during peak the confrontation to about 200 and the US has long been accused of taking its eye off the northern theater, recently.

Copenhagen has signaled it is open to discussion about a expanded US footprint on the territory and more but faced with the US President's warning of going it alone, Frederiksen said on Monday that Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland should be considered a real possibility.

In the wake of the Washington's moves in Venezuela this past few days, her fellow leaders across Europe are taking it seriously.

"This whole situation has just underlined – for the umpteenth time – Europe's fundamental weakness {