U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he secured a one-week pause in Russian attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities after a direct appeal to his counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The claim comes as Ukraine faces a severe cold snap, with temperatures forecast to plummet to as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius.
Russian strikes have systematically targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving millions of citizens without reliable light, heating, and water supplies. The attacks have pushed the country toward a severe humanitarian crisis during its most difficult winter since the war began.
“Because of the cold, extreme cold… I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week,” Trump stated during a cabinet meeting. “He agreed to do that, and I have to tell you, it was very nice.”
There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin on the alleged agreement.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Wednesday of preparations for new large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks on the nation’s energy facilities. On Thursday, regional authorities confirmed that ongoing Russian attacks had killed six people in central and southern Ukraine.
Kyiv city officials reported that 613 buildings in the capital were without heat due to the damage from recent aerial attacks, compounding the crisis as the country braces for the record-setting cold.
