Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Pause on Kyiv Attacks Amid Freezing Temperatures
Former United States President Donald Trump has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to temporarily pause attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week as extreme winter conditions grip the region.
Trump made the claim during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, explaining that he personally appealed to Putin to halt military strikes because of what he described as “extraordinary cold” affecting Ukraine. According to Trump, the request was made to ease the humanitarian pressure on civilians struggling with freezing temperatures, power shortages, and damaged infrastructure.
“I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and various towns for a week, and he agreed to do that,” Trump said while addressing officials at the White House. He added that the cold weather in Ukraine was record-setting and had worsened the already dire living conditions caused by the war.
Ukraine has been facing one of its harshest winters since the conflict began, with temperatures in some areas expected to fall as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. Repeated Russian strikes on power plants and other energy infrastructure have left millions of residents without reliable heating, electricity, or water, increasing fears of a humanitarian crisis.
Trump said he was pleased with Putin’s response, noting that some advisers had warned him not to make the call. He described the agreement as a positive step, even if temporary, saying it would prevent missiles from hitting cities at a time when civilians are most vulnerable.
There was no immediate official confirmation from the Kremlin following Trump’s remarks. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later indicated that Ukrainian officials were aware of discussions regarding a brief pause in attacks and expressed hope that any such agreement would be honored.
Despite the claimed pause, fighting has continued in other parts of Ukraine, and Russian strikes have been reported in several regions. Analysts say any one-week halt would fall short of a formal ceasefire and may not significantly alter the broader course of the war, which is now entering its fifth year.
Trump also suggested that progress was being made in broader diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict, though he did not provide details. Previous attempts at temporary truces and limited ceasefires have often collapsed amid mutual accusations of violations.
The Ukraine war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. While a brief pause in attacks could provide short-term relief for civilians in Kyiv and other cities, uncertainty remains over whether the reported agreement will be fully implemented or extended beyond the proposed one-week period.
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