In a significant development amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, United States President Donald Trump has revealed that he personally intervened to secure a temporary halt in hostilities. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to cease attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week, citing the severe winter conditions affecting the region.
Trump's Personal Appeal to Putin
President Trump emphasized that he made a direct request to his Russian counterpart, highlighting the humanitarian concerns posed by the extreme cold. "We asked President Putin if they could stop the shooting for a week," Trump told reporters. "Because of the cold, extreme cold... I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns." He further explained that Ukraine is experiencing disproportionately harsh winter weather, which has exacerbated the suffering of its civilian population.
Trump expressed satisfaction with Putin's response, stating, "He agreed to do that. We are happy that they did it." According to Trump, Ukrainian officials were initially skeptical but ultimately "very happy" with the development, as the country has been "struggling badly" amid the relentless conflict and environmental challenges.
Ukrainian Response and Context
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly acknowledged Trump's statement, thanking Washington for its efforts. In a post on social media platform X, Zelenskyy wrote, "An important statement by @POTUS about the possibility of providing security for Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities during this extreme winter period. Power supply is a foundation of life. We value the efforts of our partners to help us protect lives." He added, "Thank you, President Trump! Our teams discussed this in the United Arab Emirates. We expect the agreements to be implemented. De-escalation steps contribute to real progress toward ending the war."
This development comes against a backdrop of intensified Russian assaults on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in recent weeks. These attacks have left thousands of apartment buildings in Kyiv without heating during the severe winter, a strategy widely perceived as an attempt to undermine civilian morale. Emergency crews have been working tirelessly to restore heating and electricity in parts of the capital following airstrikes last Saturday.
Ongoing Challenges and Diplomatic Efforts
Zelenskyy noted that efforts to restore electricity are underway but described the task as "extremely difficult" due to the scale of Russian attacks. He reiterated his gratitude for U.S. initiatives to halt strikes on energy facilities and expressed hope that Washington could help ensure the implementation of such measures. "We are communicating with our partners — with the American side — about truly effective formats and truly necessary results," Zelenskyy said, emphasizing, "We don't miss any opportunity to achieve peace and guarantee security."
Meanwhile, Russia has not provided immediate official confirmation of the partial ceasefire from the Kremlin. However, in a related diplomatic move, Russia stated on Thursday that it had once again invited President Zelenskyy to Moscow for peace talks. This invitation aligns with intensifying U.S.-led efforts to bring an end to the nearly four-year-long conflict, which has seen recent drone and missile strikes across Ukrainian cities, though no major air attacks were reported on Thursday.
The situation remains fluid, with international observers closely monitoring the implementation of the reported ceasefire and its impact on humanitarian conditions in Ukraine. As winter continues to pose severe challenges, the temporary halt in hostilities could provide much-needed relief for civilians and aid workers striving to address the crisis.
