Ukraine Cautiously Welcomes Trump's Claim of Russian Attack Pause Amid Winter Crisis
WASHINGTON/KYIV — The Ukrainian government has responded with cautious appreciation to an unverified claim by U.S. President Donald Trump that he secured a temporary pause in Russian attacks on major population centers. The announcement comes as Ukraine battles a deepening winter energy crisis following sustained strikes on its infrastructure.
Speaking during a White House cabinet meeting on Thursday, Trump stated he had personally asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from firing on Kyiv and other cities for one week due to "extreme cold," and that Putin had agreed. "I asked, and he agreed to do that," Trump said, without specifying when the discussion occurred.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly thanked Trump on social media platform X, calling reliable power supply "a foundation of life" and suggesting such a humanitarian pause could help protect critical energy systems. "We value the efforts of our partners to help us protect lives," Zelensky wrote, adding that Ukraine expects the arrangement to be honored.
However, the Kremlin has not confirmed any such agreement. When questioned earlier on Thursday about a potential "energy ceasefire," spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment. The silence from Moscow casts uncertainty over the deal's status, a familiar pattern in this conflict. Past attempts at temporary truces, including a three-day humanitarian ceasefire last May, have quickly collapsed amid mutual accusations of violations.
Background & Immediate Context: Trump's claim follows trilateral talks involving U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian officials in Abu Dhabi last week, where the idea of a temporary halt was reportedly discussed. It also coincides with a marked escalation in Russian strikes targeting Ukraine's power grid, plunging millions into darkness and cold as temperatures drop well below freezing. Energy Minister German Galushchenko has reported severe shortages in Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions.
On-the-Ground Reality: In the early hours of Friday, Ukraine's Air Force reported a new wave of Russian missiles and drones targeting regions across the country. While the military did not specify if major cities or energy sites were hit, the attacks underscore the fragile and contested nature of any purported pause.
Diplomatic Landscape: The reported pause emerges amid ongoing but fraught peace negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio identified the status of Donetsk as the central unresolved issue. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, however, promptly countered that assessment, telling Russian state TV that territorial disputes are just one of many outstanding problems, suggesting a wider gap remains between the sides.
Expert & Public Reaction:
Dr. Anya Petrova, Eastern Europe Security Analyst at the Warsaw Institute: "Any reduction in violence to alleviate civilian suffering is welcome, but history advises extreme skepticism. These are tactical, not strategic, gestures. The fundamental drivers of the war remain unaddressed."
Michael Briggs, Former U.S. Diplomat: "If verified, this represents a critical confidence-building measure. It demonstrates that back-channel diplomacy can still produce results, even if minor, and may create a sliver of space for more substantive talks on energy security this winter."
Serhiy Kovalenko, NGO Director in Kharkiv (via phone): "Thank you? For a one-week promise while our cities are in ruins? This is a publicity stunt that changes nothing. People are freezing now. We need permanent security guarantees and Russia out of our land, not performative pauses that let them regroup."
Klara Schmidt, Berlin-based Humanitarian Aid Coordinator: "The immediate priority must be preventing a catastrophic winter. If this pause holds, even partially, it allows us to repair grids and deliver supplies. We must seize any opportunity to save lives, however temporary it may be."
The coming days will test the durability of Trump's claimed agreement. For Ukraine's civilians, the stakes are measured in degrees of warmth and light during one of the coldest and darkest periods of the war.
Reporting contributed by Sebastian Shukla, Daria Tarasova-Markina, Jennifer Hansler, and Moriah Thomas.