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By Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed not to target Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week as the region braces for dangerously cold temperatures, though the Kremlin has not confirmed any such commitment.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said he personally urged Putin to halt attacks during the cold snap and that the Russian leader agreed. The White House did not immediately provide details about when the conversation took place or when the limited pause would begin.
“I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week during this extraordinary cold,” Trump said. “And he agreed to that.”
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There was no immediate confirmation from Moscow. Asked earlier Thursday whether Russia and Ukraine were discussing a mutual halt on strikes against energy facilities, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment.
Russia Intensifies Pressure On Ukraine’s Power Grid
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s critical infrastructure in what Ukrainian officials describe as an effort to sap civilian morale by depriving cities of electricity, heat and running water during winter. The strategy has been described by Ukrainian authorities as “weaponizing winter.”
Kyiv and other major cities have faced rolling blackouts and power shortages as Russian drones and missiles strike energy facilities far from the front lines. Ukrainian officials say the campaign is designed to exhaust public resistance to the war as temperatures plunge.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service warned that a brutal cold wave is expected to begin Friday and last into next week, with temperatures in some regions forecast to fall to minus-30 degrees Celsius (minus-22 Fahrenheit). Kyiv, already grappling with strained power supplies, is among the areas expected to be affected.
Trump said he was pleased by what he described as Putin’s agreement to the pause, calling it an unexpected outcome.
“A lot of people said, ‘Don’t waste the call. You’re not going to get that,’” Trump said. “And he did it. And we’re very happy that they did it.”
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No Details On Timing Or Scope Of Proposed Pause
Trump did not specify when the call with Putin occurred or whether the proposed pause would apply only to Kyiv or extend to other cities and towns across Ukraine. He also did not clarify whether the pause would cover all types of attacks, including drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
The White House did not immediately respond to questions from the Associated Press seeking clarity on the scope and timing of the proposed halt in attacks, which would represent a narrow and temporary deescalation in the nearly four‑year war.
Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, and fighting has continued along a roughly 600‑mile front line despite repeated international efforts to broker a ceasefire.
Zelensky Warns Of New Barrage Despite Peace Efforts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned late Wednesday that Russian forces were preparing another large‑scale aerial assault, even as plans move forward for additional U.S.‑brokered peace talks this weekend.
Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence indicated that Moscow was assembling drones and missiles for a major attack. Previous barrages have involved hundreds of drones, along with cruise and ballistic missiles, aimed primarily at Ukraine’s power grid.
“Every single Russian strike discredits the peace talks,” Zelensky said. “Every single one.”
Overnight, Russian drone attacks killed three people in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region and sparked a large fire in an apartment building, local officials said Thursday. In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, firefighters battled blazes through the night after strikes injured two people.
Russia’s daily bombardment of civilian areas behind the front line has continued despite international condemnation and renewed diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting.
Civilian Toll Mounts As War Enters Fourth Year
Last year was the deadliest for Ukrainian civilians since the early phase of the war, according to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. The U.N. said Russia intensified aerial attacks far from the battlefield, increasing the toll on civilians.
The mission reported that 2,514 civilians were killed and 12,142 were injured over the past year—a 31 percent increase compared with the previous year. Many of the casualties were linked to long‑range missile and drone strikes on urban areas and infrastructure.
The continuing attacks come as Ukraine struggles to maintain essential services during winter, when prolonged power outages can quickly become life‑threatening.
Ukraine Raises Concerns Over Russian Use of Starlink
Ukraine is working with SpaceX to address reports that Russian forces are using the company’s Starlink satellite internet service to guide attack drones, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Thursday.
In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Fedorov said Ukrainian officials contacted the American aerospace company and proposed solutions to prevent the system from being used by Russian forces.
He thanked SpaceX founder Elon Musk and company President Gwynne Shotwell for what he described as a swift response and the start of efforts to resolve the issue.
Starlink, which relies on a constellation of roughly 10,000 satellites orbiting Earth, has played a crucial role in maintaining communications for Ukraine since the start of the war.
SpaceX Walks Delicate Line In The Conflict
SpaceX has sought to balance its support for Ukraine with restrictions on how its technology is used in the war. About a year after Russia’s invasion, Shotwell said the company was proud to help Ukrainians stay connected and “help them in their fight for freedom.”
At the same time, SpaceX has said it sought to limit the use of Starlink for offensive military operations, citing concerns about escalation.
The issue underscores the growing role of private technology companies in modern warfare and the challenges of regulating their use in active conflict zones.
Diplomatic Push Continues Amid Skepticism
Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are set to resume Sunday, though doubts persist about Moscow’s willingness to reach a settlement.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, accused Russia of not taking the talks seriously, calling Thursday for increased pressure on Moscow to force concessions.
“We see them increasing their attacks on Ukraine because they can’t make moves on the battlefield,” Kallas said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. “So they are attacking civilians.”
Kallas stressed that Europe, which views Ukraine’s fate as critical to its own security, must be fully involved in any negotiations. While the Trump administration has led recent diplomatic efforts, European leaders have expressed concern that their interests may be sidelined.
Trump Envoy Sees Progress Despite Ongoing Violence
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, said Thursday that recent three‑way talks produced “a lot of progress” and expressed optimism that further gains could be made when negotiations resume.
“I think the people of Ukraine are now hopeful and expecting that we are going to deliver a peace deal sometime soon,” Witkoff said.
Still, the human cost of the war continues to rise. An international think tank reported this week that the number of soldiers killed, wounded or missing on both sides could approach 2 million by spring, with Russia suffering the highest troop losses for any major power in a conflict since World War II.
Whether a brief pause in attacks materializes—and whether it would ease civilian suffering during the deep freeze—remains uncertain.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Update 1/29/26, 2:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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