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Earlier today, a so-called Group of the Determined, mostly consisting of EU heads of state, gathered in Paris with representatives of US President Donald Trump, aiming to achieve further headway on a durable settlement for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that a roadmap to end the hostilities with Russia is "nearly finalized", not a single person in that gathering wished to risk retaining the US engaged.

Yet, there was an colossal unspoken issue in that impressive and sparkling summit, and the prevailing mood was extremely tense.

Recall the events of the last few days: the White House's divisive incursion in Venezuela and the President Trump's insistence following this, that "our national security requires Greenland from the standpoint of strategic interests".

The vast Arctic territory is the world's largest island – it's six times the dimensions of Germany. It is located in the far north but is an semi-independent possession of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At the summit, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was sitting facing two key figures representing Trump: diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's adviser Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her EU allies to refrain from alienating the US over the Arctic question, lest that undermines US backing for the Ukrainian cause.

EU heads of state would have much rather to compartmentalize the Arctic dispute and the debate on Ukraine apart. But with the diplomatic heat rising from the White House and Denmark, representatives of leading EU countries at the Paris meeting issued a statement asserting: "This territory is part of the alliance. Defense in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in partnership with treaty partners such as the US".

"It is for Copenhagen and the Greenlandic authorities, and them only, to determine on affairs related to Denmark and Greenland," the communiqué added.

The communique was greeted by Greenland's prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, but observers argue it was tardy to be drafted and, due to the restricted group of signatories to the declaration, it was unable to project a European Union in agreement in objective.

"Were there a joint position from all 27 member states, along with alliance partner the UK, in backing of Danish control, that would have delivered a powerful signal to the US," commented a EU foreign policy expert.

Consider the paradox at work at the European gathering. Numerous European national and other officials, from NATO and the European Union, are attempting to engage the US administration in guaranteeing the future independence of a European country (Ukraine) against the expansionist land claims of an foreign power (Moscow), on the heels of the US has entered sovereign Venezuela militarily, arresting its head of state, while also continuing to openly undermining the autonomy of another EU member (Denmark).

To compound the situation – Copenhagen and the US are both members of the defensive pact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are, in the view of Copenhagen, exceptionally close allies. Or were.

The dilemma is, should Trump act upon his desire to acquire Greenland, would it constitute not just an severe risk to NATO but also a profound challenge for the EU?

Europe Faces the Danger of Being Marginalized

This is not the first time Trump has expressed his determination to acquire Greenland. He's floated the idea of acquiring it in the past. He's also not excluded a military seizure.

Recently that the territory is "crucially located right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese vessels all over the place. We need Greenland from the perspective of strategic interests and Copenhagen is not going to be able to provide security".

Copenhagen strongly denies that claim. It not long ago vowed to spend $4bn in Greenland defence encompassing boats, drones and aircraft.

As per a bilateral agreement, the US operates a strategic outpost currently on Greenland – set up at the start of the East-West standoff. It has reduced the figure of staff there from approximately 10,000 during the height of Cold War operations to about 200 and the US has frequently been criticized of neglecting the northern theater, up to this point.

Denmark has signaled it is willing to talk about a bigger US role on the island and more but confronted by the US President's warning of going it alone, the Danish PM said on Monday that Trump's ambition to acquire Greenland should be taken seriously.

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

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