US President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for a week, as the country faces one of its harshest winters since the war began. Ongoing Russian strikes on power infrastructure have left millions without reliable electricity, heating, and water, pushing Ukraine closer to a humanitarian crisis in freezing temperatures.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said he personally appealed to Putin not to target Ukrainian cities during the extreme cold spell. He described the weather conditions as “extraordinary,” comparing them to a record-setting cold snap affecting Washington, and stressed how dangerous such conditions are for civilians already struggling with damaged infrastructure.
According to Trump, Putin agreed to the request, a move he described as “very nice.” He noted that many had doubted the value of the call, but he was surprised by the positive response. As of now, there has been no immediate confirmation or reaction from the Kremlin regarding this claim.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s state weather agency has warned of temperatures dropping as low as minus 30°C in the coming days, while authorities work urgently to restore essential services. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned that fresh Russian attacks on energy facilities remain a threat.
Trump also mentioned that there has been “a lot of progress” in US-mediated talks between Kyiv and Moscow aimed at ending the war, which is approaching its fifth year. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Russian strikes reportedly killed six people in central and southern Ukraine, according to regional officials.
