Putin Consents to Temporary Ceasefire in Ukraine After Trump's Personal Appeal
In a significant diplomatic development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly agreed to a week-long cessation of attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities, including the capital Kyiv. This decision follows a direct request from US President Donald Trump, who described the Russian leader as "really nice" about the ceasefire proposal during a White House cabinet meeting.
Trump's Personal Intervention in Ukraine Conflict
President Trump revealed that he personally asked Putin to refrain from firing missiles into Kyiv and other Ukrainian urban centres for seven days, citing the extreme winter conditions affecting the region. "They've never experienced cold like that," Trump stated, adding that Putin agreed to the temporary halt in hostilities. The US President emphasised that while he was advised against contacting Putin, he believed Ukrainians "don't need missiles flying into their cities and towns."
However, the exact commencement date of this supposed ceasefire remains unclear, and Moscow has yet to officially confirm the arrangement. A source familiar with the conversation told the Kyiv Independent: "It's Trump. Try to say no to him."
Context of Winter Warfare and Energy Infrastructure Attacks
This development occurs against a backdrop of one of Ukraine's most severe energy crises since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Russian forces have consistently targeted power plants across Ukraine with missiles and drones, aiming to undermine Ukrainian resilience during the harsh winter months.
Ukrainian weather services predict temperatures in Kyiv could plummet to as low as -30°C in coming days, with almost the entire northern half of the country under extended yellow weather alerts for hazardous ice and snow conditions. Despite these challenges, Russia launched a drone and missile attack on Kyiv just yesterday, striking electricity and heating infrastructure and resulting in two civilian fatalities.
Human Cost and Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts
The recent attack claimed the lives of a mother and father of a four-year-old child, whose home was destroyed in the bombardment. Ukrainian media reported that a local journalist rescued the child from the charred building. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in a recent address that Russia appears poised to intensify attacks on energy infrastructure, with approximately 200 homes left without heating in Kryvyi Rih alone following a Russian strike.
Zelensky stated: "Russians are still trying to inflict as much pain as possible on Ukrainians, regardless of any diplomacy." Widespread blackouts have been reported across multiple regions including Poltava, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Vinnytsia, and Chernivtsi.
Discussions about halting drone and missile exchanges were reportedly part of talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States last week. Meanwhile, a recent study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicates nearly 1.8 million troops from both sides have been killed, wounded, or gone missing, with projections suggesting this toll could reach two million within weeks.
