Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Thursday that he expects the Russian Federation to uphold an agreement suspending military strikes against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for a period of one week, citing severe winter weather conditions. Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian and Russian delegations discussed the terms of this de-escalation during trilateral talks held in the United Arab Emirates the previous week, according to a post on X.
Despite the anticipated truce, regional authorities reported that recent Russian shelling in the southern Zaporizhzhia region claimed the lives of three civilians, including a 62-year-old man. Further bombardment in the Kherson region resulted in two fatalities, underscoring the ongoing kinetic conflict even as diplomatic channels signal potential pauses, as reported by Ukraine's state emergency service and regional governors.
This development follows statements from former US President Donald Trump, who claimed direct involvement in securing the commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt aerial bombardment of population centers for seven days. Trump indicated during a cabinet meeting that he personally requested the pause due to the extreme cold gripping the region, describing Putin’s agreement as a positive gesture.
Kyiv is simultaneously addressing technological challenges, with Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirming contact with SpaceX regarding allegations that Russian drones are utilizing Starlink satellite connectivity for guidance systems during strikes. The Institute for the Study of War previously noted that Russian forces were increasingly employing Starlink systems to extend the effective range of their strike drones against Ukrainian rear positions.
On the diplomatic front, the Kremlin has reiterated its standing invitation for President Zelensky to travel to Moscow for peace negotiations, although no response has been formally acknowledged by Kyiv. Profound differences remain between the negotiating stances of Moscow and Kyiv, despite recent momentum injected by US-mediated discussions held in Abu Dhabi over the preceding weekend.
Economically, the Russian energy sector showed movement independent of the conflict, as Lukoil announced its intention to divest its foreign asset portfolio to The Carlyle Group, a major United States investment firm. This corporate transaction reflects broader international divestment pressures and capital reallocation within global energy markets.
Looking ahead, Ukraine faces mounting domestic pressures as the state weather agency forecasts a significant drop in temperatures, potentially reaching minus 30C in some areas between February one and three. Kyiv is actively racing to restore energy and heating services knocked offline by previous sustained Russian strikes ahead of this expected deep freeze.
