Ukraine has seen a relatively quiet night after Donald Trump said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had agreed not to attack Kyiv and various towns during a cold snap.
The Kremlin confirmed it had agreed to cease attacks on Kyiv until Sunday to create favorable conditions for peace talks. While the US president did not specify when the pause would begin, air raid alerts sounded in just eight Ukrainian regions overnight into Friday, with two minor injuries recorded in Zaporizhzhia.
Temperatures in the capital, Kyiv, are due to plummet to -24C (-11F) over the coming days. Russia has recently intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, a strategy they have employed during cold periods since the invasion began.
Ukrainian officials had been anticipating a major attack over the weekend ahead of the cold spell; if this does not happen, it could indicate a significant step in US-led efforts to end the conflict.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin agreed to halt strikes on Kyiv at Trump’s request until February 1st. However, the spokesman did not clarify whether Russia would also refrain from targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
While recent nights have been quieter for the capital, there have been 530 air raid alerts in Kyiv this week. Ukraine's air force reported that over 100 drones and a ballistic missile were deployed against regions near the front line overnight. Nonetheless, as of Friday morning, there have been no new attacks on the essential electricity or heating infrastructure necessary for keeping the population warm.
Local residents expressed skepticism regarding the Trump-Putin agreement, fearing that it may not hold. Many are already struggling with the effects of the cold; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that without a direct dialogue or firm agreement on energy infrastructure, Kyiv would respond in kind if Russia continued its attacks.
As peace negotiations continue with international mediation, key sticking points remain, notably Ukraine’s territorial integrity and Russia's demands for land concessions. Both sides aim to resolve tensions in the face of dire winter conditions affecting millions in Ukraine.
