Trump says Russia’s Putin agreed not to attack freezing Kyiv for a week
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Ukraine’s state weather agency on Jan 29 forecast a drastic dip in temperatures to as low as minus 30 deg C in the coming days.
PHOTO: AFP
- Trump stated Putin agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv for a week due to extreme cold, worsening Ukraine's humanitarian crisis.
- Trump, who had a previous summit with Putin in Alaska in August 2025, trusts Putin will honour this agreement.
- Zelensky warned of fresh attacks; Ukraine faces temperatures as low as -30°C and millions lack basic services.
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WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other cities for a week, as Moscow’s strikes leave Ukraine facing its toughest winter since the start of the war.
Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power infrastructure have left millions with disrupted light, heating and water supplies in freezing temperatures, pushing the war-battered country towards humanitarian crisis.
“Because of the cold, extreme cold... I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week during this,” Mr Trump told a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
“It’s extraordinary. It’s not just like cold, it’s extraordinary cold. Record setting cold, over there too, they are having the same, it’s a big pile of bad weather,” added Mr Trump, comparing it to a current cold snap in Washington.
“They’ve never experienced cold like that. And I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and the various towns for a week. And he agreed to do that, and I have to tell you, it was very nice.”
There was no immediate reaction from the Kremlin but Mr Trump – whose summit in Alaska with the Russian leader in August 2025 ended without a breakthrough – said he trusted Mr Putin to honour the agreement.
“I have to tell you, people said, ‘don’t waste the call. You’re not going to get that.’ And he did it,” said Mr Trump.
“And we’re very happy that they did it, because on top of everything else, that’s not what they need is missiles coming into their towns and cities.”
Ukraine’s state weather agency on Jan 29 forecast a drastic dip in temperatures to as low as minus 30 deg C in coming days as authorities race to restore services.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in an evening address on Jan 28 of fresh Russian attacks on energy facilities.
Mr Trump added that there had been “a lot of progress” in US-brokered talks between Kyiv and Moscow to end Russia’s invasion of its pro-Western neighbour, which will soon enter its fifth year.
Russian attacks killed six people in central and southern Ukraine on Jan 29, regional authorities and emergency services said. AFP
