Ukraine registered a relatively quiet night following reports that former US President Donald Trump secured an agreement from Russian President Vladimir Putin to pause missile attacks on Kyiv and surrounding towns during severe cold weather. This development comes as temperatures in the capital are forecast to drop significantly, potentially reaching minus 24 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that Putin agreed to halt strikes on Kyiv until February first, citing a personal request from Trump, framing the pause as a measure to create favorable conditions for US-mediated peace negotiations. However, Peskov did not confirm any reciprocal commitment regarding strikes on critical energy infrastructure, which Russia has frequently targeted during previous cold periods.
Trump informed a cabinet meeting in Washington D.C. on Thursday that he personally asked Putin to cease fire into Kyiv for one week, claiming the Russian leader consented to the request. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged Trump’s statement, noting the possibility of security for Kyiv during the extreme winter period, though he stressed there was no direct bilateral agreement on energy targets.
Despite the relative calm overnight, Ukrainian officials had anticipated intensified attacks ahead of the cold spell, according to reports. While air raid alerts sounded in only eight regions, Ukraine’s air force reported that over 100 drones and a ballistic missile were directed at front-line areas during the night.
Residents in Kyiv expressed skepticism regarding the durability of the arrangement between the two leaders, citing previous failed agreements. The city continues to manage significant infrastructure damage, with Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reporting that 378 apartment blocks in the capital remain without heating despite round-the-clock repair efforts by electrical companies.
This potential respite coincides with planned trilateral talks between Russian, Ukrainian, and US negotiators previously held in the United Arab Emirates, which aimed at advancing a peace framework. A key sticking point in ongoing negotiations remains the status of occupied territories, with Kyiv firmly rejecting any compromise infringing on its territorial integrity.
Kyiv maintains its position that it will not surrender the Donbas region or the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant without resistance, even as diplomatic efforts continue. The status of a second round of peace talks, potentially postponed due to geopolitical tensions involving Iran, remains uncertain.
