As Ukraine coalition meets in Paris, Trump's attention is on Western Hemisphere

The catchphrase going into Tuesday's coalition of the willing meeting on Ukraine in Paris appears to be: expect the unexpected.

That was clearly the vibe as leaders from the 30-or-so countries, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, gathered in the French capital.

While European leaders were trying to square the implications the U.S. military action in Venezuela will have on efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine, Carney was dealing with the political fallout of Chrystia Freeland's acceptance of a role advising the Ukrainian government while still a sitting member of Parliament. 

The former cabinet minister will be a special, unpaid economic adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She was Canada's envoy to Ukraine for reconstruction but has resigned that position and will quit as an MP in the near future.

But, by far, the capture and planned prosecution of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores under U.S. law was the event that rattled European leaders on the eve of discussing specific security guarantees for Ukraine.

Adding to that unease, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to annex Greenland from Denmark in an interview with The Atlantic. 

"I have to say this very directly to the United States: It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in response on social media.

"I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country, and another people, who have said very clearly that they are not for sale."

Trump told reporters on Air Force One that European leaders know the United States needs to have Greenland.

A number of Nordic nations, however, including Finland, have expressed support for Denmark retaining control of the Arctic territory.

Carney is expected to meet separately with both Frederiksen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb on the sidelines of the Ukraine meeting. 

But it's unlikely European Union leaders will want to address the question of Venezuela directly over the next few days for fear of angering Trump and his delegates in Paris — and perhaps jeopardizing U.S. support for the coalition and Ukraine.

Carney adopted a measured response to Maduro's arrest, noting Canada had not recognized Maduro's "brutally oppressive and criminal regime" since the 2018 election which many in the international community say was stolen from the opposition. 

Carney welcomed "the opportunity for freedom, democracy, peace and prosperity for the Venezuelan people," who have the "sovereign right to decide and build their own future in a peaceful and democratic society."