A so-called ‘energy ceasefire’ has begun in Ukraine, following an announcement by US President Donald Trump. Trump stated that due to extreme cold, he personally requested Russian President Putin to refrain from attacking Kyiv and other cities for one week. Putin reportedly agreed.
Neither the Ukrainian nor Russian sides have officially confirmed the ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that there were no direct agreements: if Russia refrains from attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Ukraine will also withhold strikes on Russia’s energy facilities.
Discussions about a possible ceasefire have been ongoing in the media, but no formal agreement was reached. Meanwhile, airstrikes across Ukraine continue. According to the Air Force, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian sites with drones and missiles, causing damage to civilian and industrial infrastructure.
Trump emphasized that the ceasefire is to last for one week. Experts believe Russia may use this time to accumulate more missiles, and that the halt in attacks is a gesture to the United States. The material also analyzes how the ceasefire could impact relations between the US, Russia, and their allies, including issues related to Cuba and Iran, and the prospects for adherence to the agreement.
Similar agreements have existed before, but in June 2025, Russia violated them by resuming attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. The Ukrainian side expects that the current ceasefire may also be broken by Russia, after which attacks on infrastructure are likely to continue.
Local authorities and the military stress the importance of maintaining defense capacity even during periods of ceasefire, calling for ongoing support for the Ukrainian armed forces.