Ukraine saw a calmer night after former US President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to pause attacks on Kyiv and other cities during an intense winter cold spell.
Trump stated that he personally asked Putin to halt strikes for a week. He said the request aimed to protect civilians as temperatures across Ukraine drop sharply. According to Trump, Putin accepted the request, surprising many observers.
The Kremlin later confirmed a temporary pause in attacks on Kyiv. Russian officials said the move was meant to support peace discussions led by the United States.
Limited Attacks Despite Ongoing War
Although the night remained mostly quiet, air raid alerts still sounded in eight Ukrainian regions. Officials reported two minor injuries in Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine’s air force confirmed that Russian forces launched more than 100 drones and one ballistic missile near frontline areas.
Importantly, there were no new strikes on power or heating facilities as of Friday morning. These systems are critical as temperatures in Kyiv are expected to fall to minus twenty four degrees Celsius in the coming days.
Russia has often targeted energy infrastructure during winter since the invasion began. Ukrainian officials had expected major attacks ahead of the cold spell. The lack of large scale strikes has raised cautious hope.
Kremlin Confirms Short Pause
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin ordered a halt to attacks on Kyiv until February one. He claimed the decision came at Trump’s personal request. However, he avoided confirming whether Russia would stop targeting energy sites nationwide.
Peskov framed the pause as a step to support peace talks rather than a humanitarian move tied to freezing weather conditions.
Despite the calmer nights, Kyiv has faced over five hundred air raid alerts this week alone, according to monitoring groups.
Trump and Zelensky Respond
Speaking during a cabinet meeting in Washington, Trump said Ukrainians were struggling badly due to the cold. He added that many people doubted Putin would agree but described the response as positive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Trump’s remarks. He said the statement raised the possibility of temporary security for Kyiv and other cities during extreme winter conditions.
However, Zelensky clarified that Ukraine had no direct agreement with Russia over energy infrastructure. He said Ukraine would respond proportionally if Russia stopped such attacks.
Ukrainians Remain Cautious
Kyiv residents reacted with mixed feelings. Olena, a local resident, said she did not trust Putin to stop attacks, even for a short time. She noted that previous agreements failed to hold.
Another resident, Hennadiy, expressed hope but remained skeptical. He said a one week pause would help people survive severe cold, especially as temperatures approach minus thirty degrees Celsius.
