When US President Donald Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed not to attack Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for a week due to extreme cold weather, the statement immediately drew global attention. While Moscow has not officially confirmed such an agreement, the claim has reopened a familiar and painful chapter in the nearly four-year Russia–Ukraine war: the strategic use of winter as a weapon.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, winter has repeatedly marked a turning point in the conflict. Unable to secure swift military victory on the battlefield, Moscow increasingly shifted its focus toward Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, particularly energy systems. Beginning in late 2022, Russia carried out waves of missile and drone strikes targeting power stations, heating facilities, and transmission networks, plunging millions of Ukrainians into darkness and freezing temperatures.
The pattern repeated itself in subsequent winters. During the winter of 2023–24, Russia intensified attacks on energy infrastructure once again, leaving cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro struggling with rolling blackouts. Ukrainian officials and Western analysts described the strategy as an attempt to weaken civilian morale, overwhelm repair capabilities, and pressure Kyiv politically by exploiting harsh weather conditions.
Against this historical backdrop, Trump’s claim that Putin agreed to pause attacks due to “extraordinary cold” with temperatures forecast to fall as low as -24°C is met with cautious skepticism in Kyiv. Ukraine’s air force reported that even after the announcement, Russian drones and missiles targeted frontline regions, underscoring the fragile and uncertain nature of any informal understanding.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the possibility of reduced strikes but stopped short of declaring it a breakthrough. In a social media statement, he emphasized that discussions involving Ukrainian, Russian, and US representatives had taken place in the United Arab Emirates, marking the first known trilateral talks since the war began. However, no formal ceasefire or written agreement has been announced.
Historically, temporary pauses in hostilities during the war have often served tactical rather than humanitarian purposes. Military analysts note that Russia has previously reduced operations during extreme weather to regroup forces, conserve missile stockpiles, or prepare new offensives. Ukraine, for its part, has indicated it would mirror Moscow’s actions, including pausing attacks on Russian oil refineries, should the reduction in strikes prove genuine.
For civilians, the stakes remain existential. Damage to Ukraine’s power grid can undo months of repair work in hours, and even brief interruptions in heating during severe cold can be life-threatening. While a week-long pause would offer limited relief, it does not alter the broader trajectory of a war that has already reshaped Europe’s security landscape.
Ultimately, the episode highlights a recurring truth of the Russia–Ukraine conflict: winter does not bring peace , only new tests of endurance, resilience, and survival.
Source : BBC News
