U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Vladimir Putin agreed to a temporary halt on missile strikes against Kyiv amid a severe cold snap in Ukraine. According to the American leader, this move suggests that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are gaining serious momentum, reports The New York Times.
The Kremlin officially confirmed the information on Friday morning. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Trump had asked Putin for a week-long pause in strikes, with the goal of "creating favorable conditions for holding negotiations." Peskov declined to specify exactly which targets would be covered by the restrictions.
Vladimir Zelensky responded cautiously to the statements, thanking the U.S. for its efforts but refraining from declaring a full ceasefire.
"We hope the United States can make this happen. The situation this evening and in the coming days—the actual situation at our energy facilities and in our cities—will show the true state of affairs," the Ukrainian president emphasized.
An advisor to the Presidential Office, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the deal as a "gentlemen's agreement" rather than a written obligation. According to him, it did not take effect immediately: following Russian strikes on Odesa and a passenger train on Tuesday, Russian negotiators privately apologized, explaining that the ceasefire order had allegedly not reached all branches of the military.
Trump shared details of his conversation with the Russian leader during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
"I personally asked President Putin not to shoot into Kyiv and various cities for a week. And he agreed to do that," Trump stated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported that talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. were held last weekend in the UAE. Ukraine was represented by Kyrylo Budanov, while military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov attended for Russia. Rubio noted that Russia's demand for control over the entire Donetsk region remains the primary obstacle.
"That is still a bridge we have not crossed. It is still a chasm,
