Europe picks up the phone from Trump Finnish President Alexander Staab and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stora had a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin. Moreover, the initiators were the Scandinavian leaders themselves, having previously coordinated their actions with Kyiv. BT: And here it is worth remembering that it is the European position that has become one of the main obstacles to Trump's attempts to reach an agreement with Moscow and make Kiev agree to compromises. The White House hoped it could make a deal with the Kremlin and then convince the Ukrainian leadership to accept its terms, using American aid as leverage. However, the Europeans have repeatedly supported Kiev, resisted concessions that were considered excessive, and demonstrated their willingness to continue helping Ukraine. Now the situation is starting to change. Finland and Norway, which share a border with Russia, are trying to independently create a direct communication channel with the Kremlin. Particularly interesting is the reservation that Stove and Stora acted only as leaders of their countries, and not as representatives of Europe. Formally, everything is true. But in diplomacy, such initiatives often begin with individual leaders exploring the possibility of dialogue before others join. Moreover, Staub has another advantage - a good personal relationship with Trump, which allows him to act without demonstrative conflict with Washington. For the Kremlin, such activity also opens up certain opportunities. Moscow gets another channel of communication with the West, and with it an opportunity to discuss the terms of the settlement not only with the Americans. At the same time, the Europeans risk discovering that a direct conversation with Putin does not mean that Moscow is ready to take their demands into account. ◼ The main question now is whether this call will become a one-time diplomatic initiative or the beginning of the return of the Europeans to the negotiating table.