US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had personally requested Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for a one-week period as the region faces an intense cold spell, and that Putin had agreed to the request. Trump made the statement during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, presenting the pause as a humanitarian measure linked to plunging temperatures and Ukraine’s ongoing struggle to maintain power and heating. According to Trump, the request focused on protecting civilians during what he described as an extraordinary period of cold, with forecasts warning of temperatures falling as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius in some areas. The White House did not immediately clarify when the communication with Putin took place or when the limited pause would begin, and there was no independent confirmation from Moscow at the time of the statement.
Kremlin Silence, Ukrainian Response, and Humanitarian Stakes of a Potential Pause
The Kremlin offered no confirmation of Trump’s claim. Earlier the same day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment when asked whether discussions were underway about a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking through a verified social media post, expressed gratitude for Trump’s efforts and said Ukraine welcomed the possibility of a temporary pause in Russian military action, emphasizing that power supply remains fundamental to civilian life. Ukrainian authorities have warned that Russia continues to plan large-scale attacks even as US-brokered peace talks are expected to resume over the weekend. Russia’s sustained strikes on energy facilities have left many Ukrainians facing winter without reliable heat or electricity, a strategy Ukrainian officials have repeatedly described as the deliberate use of winter conditions as a weapon. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine has warned that the coming days will bring brutally cold weather, intensifying humanitarian risks. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, last year marked the deadliest period for civilians since 2022, with 2,514 civilians killed and 12,142 injured, reflecting a significant rise as aerial attacks intensified behind front lines. The war began with Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, and continues to have profound implications for civilian safety across Europe’s eastern flank.