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Earlier today, a self-styled Coalition of the Willing, predominantly made up of EU heads of state, met in Paris with delegates of US President Donald Trump, aiming to secure additional progress on a durable settlement for the embattled nation.

With President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a plan to conclude the war with Russia is "90% of the way there", not a single person in that room wished to jeopardise maintaining the US engaged.

Yet, there was an immense unspoken issue in that impressive and sparkling Paris meeting, and the prevailing atmosphere was exceptionally tense.

Bear in mind the actions of the last few days: the White House's contentious intervention in the South American nation and the US president's insistence following this, that "we need Greenland from the perspective of defense".

Greenland is the world's biggest island – it's 600% the dimensions of Germany. It is situated in the Arctic but is an autonomous territory of Copenhagen.

At the conference, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was sitting facing two influential personalities representing Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from European counterparts to refrain from antagonising the US over the Greenland issue, in case that affects US support for the Ukrainian cause.

The continent's officials would have greatly desired to separate Greenland and the discussions on the war apart. But with the diplomatic heat rising from Washington and Copenhagen, representatives of big states at the gathering put out a declaration saying: "This territory is part of NATO. Defense in the North must therefore be attained collectively, in cooperation with NATO allies like the United States".

"It is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and them alone, to determine on issues regarding the kingdom and Greenland," the statement continued.

The communique was greeted by Nuuk's head of government, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but critics say it was slow to be drafted and, due to the small group of supporters to the statement, it was unable to demonstrate a European Union in agreement in intent.

"If there had been a common statement from all 27 member states, in addition to alliance partner the UK, in backing of Copenhagen's control, that would have delivered a powerful warning to America," commented a European defense specialist.

Ponder the paradox at work at the Paris summit. Multiple EU government and other leaders, from the alliance and the EU, are seeking to involve the White House in safeguarding the future autonomy of a EU nation (Ukraine) against the hostile geopolitical designs of an external actor (Russia), immediately after the US has swooped into sovereign Venezuela by armed intervention, detaining its leader, while also continuing to actively threatening the territorial integrity of a different continental ally (the Kingdom of Denmark).

To add to the complexity – Copenhagen and the US are both signatories of the transatlantic alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, according to Danish officials, exceptionally key friends. Previously, they were considered so.

The dilemma is, if Trump were to fulfill his desire to bring Greenland under US control, would it constitute not just an severe risk to NATO but also a significant problem for the European Union?

Europe Risks Being Marginalized

This is not an isolated incident Trump has spoken of his determination to acquire Greenland. He's proposed purchasing it in the past. He's also refused to rule out forcible annexation.

Recently that the island is "so strategic right now, it is frequented by Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. Our security demands Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Denmark is unable to handle it".

Denmark strongly denies that last statement. It not long ago committed to invest $4bn in the island's defense for boats, drones and aircraft.

Pursuant to a bilateral agreement, the US operates a defense installation already on Greenland – founded at the beginning of the East-West standoff. It has scaled down the number of personnel there from around 10,000 during peak the confrontation to about 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of overlooking the northern theater, until now.

Copenhagen has suggested it is willing to talk about a bigger US footprint on the territory and further cooperation but confronted by the US President's assertion of unilateral action, the Danish PM said on Monday that Washington's desire to take Greenland should be treated with gravity.

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

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