US President Donald Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt strikes on Ukraine for one week amid cold weather conditions. According to Trump, Putin agreed. The US president did not specify when the conversation took place.

Trump said he had been warned that Russia would likely refuse, but stated that the agreement was reached and welcomed. He added that Ukrainian officials initially reacted with disbelief but later expressed satisfaction. Trump also said there has been significant progress in Russia-Ukraine negotiations, an assessment supported at the same meeting by US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff.

Since early January, Russia’s Defense Ministry has repeatedly reported strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities in response to Ukrainian terrorist attacks. The ministry has emphasized that the strikes target only military and energy facilities and related infrastructure.