The latest development precedes US-mediated peace talks scheduled over the weekend. …reports Asian Lite News
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to suspend strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week, citing extreme cold conditions affecting the region.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Trump said he personally reached out to the Russian leader to request the temporary halt, emphasising the humanitarian impact of what he described as “extraordinary cold.”
“I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and various towns for a week, and he agreed to do that,” Trump said, adding that the development was unexpected. “A lot of people said, ‘Don’t waste the call, you’re not going to get that.’ And he did it,” the former US president noted.
The announcement comes amid ongoing violence on the ground. Ukrainian authorities reported that three people were killed in a Russian drone attack in the southern Zaporizhzhia region overnight. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia could be preparing for another major offensive despite the temporary pause.
The latest development precedes US-mediated peace talks scheduled over the weekend. These discussions are part of broader diplomatic efforts following last week’s trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi, which involved representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.
In a parallel diplomatic move, Moscow extended an official invitation to Zelenskyy to hold negotiations in Russia aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long conflict. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told TASS that Russia is considering Moscow as the venue for talks, marking the second consecutive day senior Kremlin officials signalled readiness to host Ukraine’s president. Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov emphasised that Zelenskyy’s security would be fully guaranteed and all necessary arrangements provided should he accept the invitation, according to Russia Today.
Analysts note that while the temporary ceasefire offers brief relief amid freezing winter conditions, it remains uncertain whether it will translate into broader de-escalation. Both sides continue to face mounting pressure to seek diplomatic solutions while maintaining military readiness.
