US President Donald Trump has stated that Vladimir Putin has consented to suspend attacks on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and other cities for a week due to the extreme cold weather affecting the region.
While there has been no confirmation from Russia regarding this agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the announcement, emphasizing the dire situation Ukrainians face amidst ongoing conflict.
Trump did not detail when this temporary halt of hostilities would commence, but warned that temperatures in Kyiv are forecasted to drop dramatically, potentially reaching as low as -24C (-11F) in the upcoming days.
This announcement comes at a time when Russia has been intensifying attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure during the severe winter months, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
During a cabinet meeting in Washington, Trump mentioned, I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and the various towns for a week, and he agreed to do that. He painted a picture of Ukrainians being relieved by the potential cessation of hostilities, as many are suffering immensely.
Zelensky later referred to Trump's statement as significant, noting expectations that any agreements negotiated would be upheld. Reports indicate that Ukraine is prepared to mirror Russia's actions by halting its own strikes on Russian targets in response.
Despite the positive tone from both leaders regarding potential negotiations, ongoing attacks have crippled power supplies across several Ukrainian cities, leaving many residents without essential heating and electricity during the harsh winter.
Repair teams are working tirelessly to restore power, but frequent attacks prevent substantial recovery efforts, compounded by the freezing conditions plaguing the region.
