“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,” said Trump
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to suspend attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week, as Russia’s strikes continue to leave Ukraine facing its harshest winter since the start of the conflict.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure have disrupted electricity, heating, and water supplies for millions, raising fears of a deepening humanitarian crisis amid freezing temperatures.
“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,” AFP quoted Trump as telling 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 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 response from the Kremlin, but Trump — whose summit with Putin in Alaska last August ended without a breakthrough — said he trusted the Russian leader to honor 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 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 Thursday warned of a severe cold snap, with temperatures expected to plunge to as low as minus 30°C in the coming days, as authorities scramble to restore essential services.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an evening address on Wednesday, cautioned of renewed Russian strikes on energy infrastructure.
President Trump said there had been “a lot of progress” in Washington-brokered talks between Kyiv and Moscow aimed at ending Russia’s invasion, which is entering its fifth year.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed six people in central and southern Ukraine on Thursday, officials and emergency services reported.
With inputs from agencies
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