As of late January 2026, Russia has agreed to a temporary pause in airstrikes on Kyiv until February 1, following a personal request from U.S. President Donald Trump, due to severe, freezing winter conditions. While this pause aims to alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by the targeting of energy infrastructure, there is no formal, long-term truce.
Request by U.S. Leadership: President Trump stated he requested the pause to prevent further suffering during "extreme cold," a request the Kremlin confirmed was made by him and accepted by President Putin to create "favorable conditions" for negotiations.
Scope of the Pause: The halt specifically targets strikes on Kyiv, although reports indicate that while energy attacks on the capital ceased temporarily, Russia has continued to strike other regions and logistics infrastructure.
Context of the Cold: The move comes as temperatures dropped below -15∘C negative 15 raised to the composed with power C−15∘C, causing widespread power outages and heating failures in Ukrainian cities.
Uncertainty: President Zelenskyy noted the lack of a formal, comprehensive ceasefire, despite the temporary pause in attacks on the capital.
Yes, Russia has agreed to a temporary suspension of airstrikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and potentially other cities, specifically citing the extreme cold weather and a personal request from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Status of the Suspension (as of late January 2026)
The Agreement: The Kremlin confirmed that President Vladimir Putin accepted a request from President Trump to halt missile and drone strikes on Kyiv until Sunday, February 1, 2026.
Reasoning: The primary reason given for the pause is the "extraordinary cold" currently gripping Ukraine, where temperatures have plunged as low as -15°C to -30°C. The pause is also framed as a move to create a "favorable environment" for ongoing peace negotiations.
Ukraine’s Response: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed readiness to reciprocate by suspending strikes on Russian energy infrastructure but cautioned that there is no formal truce yet.
Important Limitations of the Pause
Scope: While airstrikes on Kyiv’s energy grid are paused, Russian forces have reportedly shifted their focus to targeting Ukrainian logistics and transportation networks (roads and railways).
Geographic Limits: The formal pause primarily covers Kyiv. Shelling and drone strikes have continued in other regions, including Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Kryvyi Rih, where residential areas and energy facilities were hit as recently as January 28–29.
Front-Line Operations: Ground combat remains intense. While the cold has slowed some infantry movements, Russian forces are reportedly using the frozen conditions to attempt river crossings and have intensified small-group infiltration tactics in eastern sectors.
Power Grid Impact: Despite the pause in strikes, technical malfunctions and past damage have still led to widespread emergency power cuts in Kyiv and other major cities during this cold snap.
Comments
Russia and Ukraine completed a “prisoner swap” on 2-5-26. India has chosen to end importing Russian oil and LNG, putting further pressure on the Russian Economy.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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