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US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to temporarily pause strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for a period of one week, citing extreme cold weather conditions prevailing across the region.
Addressing a Cabinet meeting, Trump said he personally reached out to the Russian leader and urged him to halt the attacks on the Ukrainian capital and nearby towns, highlighting 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. Describing the development as unexpected, Trump noted that several people had advised him against making the call. "A lot of people said, 'Don't waste the call, you're not going to get that.' And he did it," Trump added. Trump's comments come as violence continues on the ground. Ukrainian officials on Thursday said three people were killed in an overnight Russian drone attack in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, even as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that Russia could be gearing up for another major assault. These developments are unfolding ahead of planned US-mediated peace talks expected to take place over the weekend. In a parallel diplomatic move, Russia has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Moscow for negotiations aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long conflict, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. The proposal follows last week's first trilateral meeting involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi. Speaking to TASS, Peskov said Moscow is being considered as the potential venue for the discussions. This marks the second consecutive day that senior Kremlin officials have signalled readiness to host Zelenskyy for peace talks. On Wednesday, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Ukraine's leader would be welcome in Moscow if he agrees to meet. Ushakov also said Russia would ensure Zelenskyy's security and provide all necessary arrangements for the talks should he accept the invitation, according to Russia Today. (ANI)
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