Image Credentials: Image Title: Kremlin Confirms Trump Requested Temporary Halt to Airstrikes Amid Severe Cold Source: (sora.openai) Date: January 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle News Desk
MOSCOW — The Kremlin confirmed on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump has personally reached out to Russian President Vladimir Putin, requesting a temporary suspension of airstrikes against Ukrainian cities. The request comes as Ukraine grapples with a brutal winter cold snap that has left hundreds of thousands without heating or electricity following months of intensive strikes on energy infrastructure.
During a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday, President Trump revealed that he had asked Moscow for a one-week “pause” in attacks on Kyiv and other urban centers. “I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week during this extraordinary cold,” Trump stated, noting that the Russian leader had agreed to the request.
Trump: 'because of extreme cold, I personally asked Prez Putin not to fire on Kiev, and cities and towns for a WEEK'
'He agreed to do that, and it was very nice'
Ukrainians 'were very happy about it, because they are struggling badly' pic.twitter.com/UvsvOn7nHU
— Blondelady2024 (@arva61138) January 30, 2026
On Friday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the request had been received. However, Peskov declined to provide further details regarding Moscow’s official response or the specific terms of the agreement. Despite the diplomatic overtures, reports from Kyiv indicated that Russia continued some drone and missile strikes overnight, raising questions about the immediate implementation of the ceasefire.
The temporary truce is seen as an effort to create a “favorable environment” for upcoming peace negotiations. Diplomatic sources suggest that the U.S. administration is pushing for a breakthrough in trilateral talks, potentially scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the news, expressing gratitude for Washington’s efforts to protect civilian lives and energy security during the “extreme” weather conditions. Local authorities in Kyiv have reported that over 600 buildings in the capital remain without heating as temperatures are expected to plummet further in the coming days.