Trump Claims Russia Agrees to One-Week Pause on Attacks on Ukrainian Cities; Peace Talks Gain Momentum
Temporary halt during extreme cold cited as humanitarian move; US says progress in talks unprecedented
Washington: US President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia has agreed not to attack Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for a week during the period of extreme cold. According to Trump, the decision was taken on humanitarian grounds, as missile strikes during severe winter conditions significantly worsen the suffering of civilians.
Trump asked his special envoy Steve Witkoff to brief the Cabinet on the progress of negotiations. Witkoff said that Ukraine had conveyed that the progress made since the Geneva talks was greater than anything seen over the past four years.
Witkoff also revealed that recent meetings between US and Russian officials had yielded positive results. He said that five Russian generals were present in Abu Dhabi last Sunday, where discussions showed encouraging progress.
He added that talks would continue, with another round expected in about a week. According to Witkoff, work on a draft peace agreement is at an advanced stage. “We have a security protocol agreement that is largely complete, and a prosperity agreement that is also largely complete. I think the Ukrainian people are now hoping that we will reach a peace deal soon,” he said.
Trump then spoke about his direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Because of the cold—very severe cold—I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and other cities and towns for a week, and he agreed,” Trump said.
Trump noted that several advisers had advised him against making the call, suggesting it would not help. However, he went ahead, saying the results proved worthwhile. He emphasized that Ukraine is currently facing extremely difficult conditions, and missile attacks during harsh winter weather would only worsen the humanitarian situation.
Steve Witkoff credited the progress to Trump’s negotiating strategy, saying it was Trump’s presence and pressure that made the breakthrough possible—something Ukraine had earlier believed was unlikely.
Trump said the cold conditions were record-breaking, comparable to those in the United States, prompting him to intervene directly out of concern for civilians. The US administration has described its approach as “peace through strength,” while talks among the United States, Russia, and Ukraine continue at multiple levels.
The Ukraine war has now entered its fourth year, claiming a large number of lives, causing massive damage to infrastructure, and witnessing several attempts at peace—though a full ceasefire has yet to be achieved.
