Europe ditches Trump whisperer Zelenskyy as leaders prepare to call Putin directly

Europe is shifting its strategy on the war in Ukraine. Leaders of the bloc are preparing to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the draft. This marks a break from the previous approach. Until now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy served as the main go-between for Europe and the Trump administration. That role — the "Trump whisperer" — appears to be over. The new crisis looks different from earlier ones. European leaders now plan to bypass intermediaries and engage Moscow directly.