Ukraine Faces Unprecedented Cold as Trump Claims Putin Halts Power Attacks
Amid brutal winter hardships in Ukraine, Trump claims Putin agreed to a temporary ceasefire on energy attacks, yet Kyiv remains skeptical as hostilities and mutual distrust persist without formal truce.
Ukraine expects to see signs today that Russia is honoring a commitment it reportedly made to temporarily halt attacks on its power grid, according to U.S. President Donald Trump, while Kyiv and other regions continue to endure the harshest winter cold in recent years.
Trump announced late Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to his request to refrain from targeting Ukraine’s capital and other cities for one week, as the area faces freezing temperatures causing widespread hardship for civilians.
Trump did not specify when the call with Putin took place or when the moratorium would begin, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for clarification on the scope and timeline of any temporary pause. At the same time, there was no immediate confirmation from the Kremlin that Putin had committed to the measure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed skepticism about Putin’s willingness to take such a step, as Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began on February 24, 2022, approaches its four-year anniversary next month without any indication that Moscow is willing to pursue a peace agreement, despite the U.S.-led initiative aimed at ending hostilities.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian president commented on the situation:
I do not believe that Russia wants to end the war. There is a lot of evidence that shows the opposite.
Drone and Missile Attacks Continue
Zelensky said Ukraine is prepared to halt its attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, including oil refineries, provided Moscow ceases bombardments on the Ukrainian power grid and other energy assets.
Although there has been no official announcement regarding whether these reciprocal steps have been taken, the protracted war of attrition continued.
During the night, Russia launched 111 drones and one ballistic missile toward Ukraine, injuring at least three people, the Ukrainian Air Force announced. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that its air defenses shot down 18 Ukrainian drones overnight over various Russian regions, as well as over the annexed Crimea and the Black Sea.
Severe Cold Forecast for Ukraine
Kyiv, which recently suffered severe power outages, is expected to enter from Friday into an extremely cold spell projected to last throughout the following week. Temperatures in some areas will drop as low as -30 °C, reported the State Emergency Service.
Russia has sought to deprive Ukrainian civilians of heating, light, and running water as part of a strategy that Ukrainian authorities describe as “winter weapons.”
The possibility of relief from attacks on the energy sector was discussed at a meeting held last weekend in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, between delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, Zelensky said.
Zelensky stated he agreed to a “mutual approach” regarding energy attacks.
“If Russia does not strike us, we will … take corresponding measures,” he told reporters.
Further talks were expected on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, but this could change due to rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
“There Is No Ceasefire,” Zelensky Says
It was unclear if and how a partial ceasefire could operate amid ongoing broader fighting and mistrust between the two countries.
“There is no ceasefire. There is no official ceasefire agreement, as is usually achieved during negotiations,” Zelensky said. “There has been no direct dialogue and no immediate agreement on the matter between us and Russia.”
Ukraine initially proposed the idea of a limited energy ceasefire in talks in Saudi Arabia last year, Zelensky said, but the proposal then gained no traction.
Disagreement over what will happen to the occupied Ukrainian territories, as well as Moscow’s demand to retain control over lands it has not seized, remain a key issue blocking a peace deal, Zelensky said.
“We have repeatedly stated that we are ready for compromises that lead to a real end to the war, but which in no way involve changes to Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” Zelensky said.
The U.S. side understands this and says there is a compromise solution regarding a free economic zone.
However, Ukraine demands control of such a zone, he added.
