Trump Urges Putin to Spare Ukraine Power Grid, Limited Cease-Fire in Effect

Ukraine experienced a temporary halt in attacks on its energy infrastructure following a personal appeal from former U.S. President Donald Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin announced that this cease-fire is set to last until Sunday, February 1, 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that overnight, there were no strikes on energy facilities, which is a rare respite amid ongoing conflict that has left millions in peril during freezing winter conditions.

Despite the lull in specific energy attacks, Zelensky noted that Russia has continued to target other civilian infrastructures across Ukraine. “Drone attacks on ordinary residential buildings in cities also continue,” he stated in a post on X. Reports indicate that a ballistic missile struck the Kharkiv region, damaging civilian production warehouses, including those owned by an American company.

Trump revealed that he made a direct request to Putin on Thursday, asking him to suspend assaults on Ukrainian cities and energy systems for one week. This request was made during a particularly brutal cold snap affecting the region. According to Zelensky, Ukrainian, Russian, and American officials had previously discussed a cease-fire regarding energy infrastructure during a trilateral meeting earlier this month.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the limited cease-fire, stating, “President Trump did indeed make a personal request to President Putin to refrain from striking Kyiv for a week until February 1 in order to create favorable conditions for negotiations.” The cease-fire commenced Thursday night, although earlier that day, strikes had already targeted energy infrastructure in several regions, shortening the effective duration of the pause.

As the cease-fire takes effect, Zelensky warned that Russia has intensified its attacks on logistics networks and residential areas. Reports from various regions indicate that Shahed kamikaze drones struck a district in Zaporizhzhia, while other drone attacks have been reported “almost around the clock” in Kherson and the Dnipro region west of the Donbas, causing significant damage in Nikopol.

The situation remains precarious in the border areas of Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv, where the humanitarian crisis continues to place immense strain on civilians. Zelensky highlighted that 378 multi-story buildings in Kyiv remain without heating, prompting emergency resources to be dispatched to the capital. Urgent needs have also been noted in Cherkasy, particularly for homes relying on electric heating.

Authorities are assessing regional conditions across multiple areas, including Poltava, Kirovohrad, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, and Zhytomyr. Restoration crews are working diligently to stabilize power and heating systems as temperatures remain below freezing.

While the power grid in Ukraine has avoided fresh overnight damage, Zelensky reiterated the ongoing challenges posed by the conflict. “Thank you to everyone who is helping,” he expressed. “Glory to Ukraine.” The broader war continues to impose significant humanitarian costs, and the limited cease-fire provides only a brief moment of relief in a protracted crisis.