Trending 
The Kremlin confirmed Friday that President Vladimir Putin agreed to a one-week moratorium on strikes against Kyiv following a direct request from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The “humanitarian pause,” set to expire this Sunday, February 1, was reportedly initiated to protect civilians during a period of extreme winter weather and to foster a “favourable atmosphere” for ongoing peace negotiations.
President Trump stated he personally appealed to Putin to halt the bombardment, as temperatures in the Ukrainian capital are forecast to plunge to -30°C (-22°F).
Russia’s persistent targeting of Ukraine’s energy grid has already left massive portions of the country without heating or electricity, sparking international fears of a humanitarian catastrophe.
While President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the reprieve, he noted that Russian aggression continues elsewhere.
Over the last 24 hours, Ukraine reported multiple drone strikes on railway logistics and residential buildings in the Chernigiv and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Zelenskyy warned that while the “countdown” for the Kyiv pause has begun, the overall conflict remains intense.
The pause precedes a high-stakes second round of negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
However, significant hurdles remain; Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine will not compromise on its territorial integrity, while Putin continues to demand that Kyiv withdraw from the occupied eastern regions.
As the diplomatic window remains narrow, Ukraine has begun the forced evacuation of families from the Kharkiv region as Russian forces continue their slow advance on the ground.
