U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt attacks on Kyiv for one week due to extreme cold and that Putin agreed, although Russia has not confirmed any such agreement.
“I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week during this … extraordinary cold,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “And he did it. And we’re very happy that they did it.”
There has been no official confirmation from the Kremlin. Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment when asked whether a ceasefire or temporary halt in strikes was under discussion.
Temperatures in Kyiv are expected to drop significantly starting Friday, with forecasts calling for sustained freezing conditions.
Russia has continued targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the winter, causing prolonged power outages. Ukrainian officials have described the tactic as an effort to diminish public morale, and the United Nations has reported 2023 as the deadliest year for civilians in Ukraine since the war began in February 2022. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission recorded 2,514 civilian deaths and 12,142 injuries in 2023, a 31% increase compared to 2022.
Overnight, a Russian drone strike killed three people in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, and a fire was reported in a residential building, according to Ukrainian emergency services. Two others were injured in the Dnipropetrovsk region due to related drone attacks, officials said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that intelligence suggests Russia is preparing for further aerial assaults. Previous attacks have included over 800 drones in a single wave, along with cruise and ballistic missiles targeting power infrastructure.
“Every single Russian strike” diminishes the credibility of ongoing peace negotiations, Zelenskyy said Wednesday.
The nearly 1,000-kilometer front line has seen continued hostilities despite international condemnation. Russia’s drone attacks have left civilians without heat, water, or power, as temperatures are expected to fall below -30°C in some areas, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service warned.
Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to resume Sunday. However, doubts remain about Russia’s approach to the talks. European Union foreign ministers, meeting Thursday in Brussels, called for increased pressure on Moscow.
“We see them increasing their attacks on Ukraine because they can’t make moves on the battlefield. So, they are attacking civilians,” said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
European officials have expressed concern that their interests may not be fully represented in peace talks, which have been driven recently by the Trump administration.
According to a recent report by an international think tank, total military casualties on both sides may approach 2 million by spring, with Russia suffering the highest troop losses of any major power since World War II.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Russia launched over 6,000 drones in the past month alone. He noted that Russia is improving its drone technology, prompting Ukraine to adjust its air defense strategy.
Fedorov also said Ukraine is working with SpaceX to address reports that the Starlink satellite network has been used with Russian attack drones. He confirmed that his defense team contacted the company and thanked CEO Elon Musk and SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell for their rapid response.
Shotwell said last year that while SpaceX supports internet access for Ukrainians, it has moved to restrict military use of the technology.
Meanwhile, Ukraine received the remains of about 1,000 of its fallen soldiers from Russia, according to Ukrainian authorities. In exchange, Russia received 38 of its own soldiers’ bodies, Russian lawmaker Shamsail Saraliev told RBC news outlet.
