Putin orders three-day pause on strikes against Kyiv at Trump’s request

Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day pause on Russian strikes targeting Kyiv, acting on a personal request from US President Donald Trump. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the move on January 30, 2026, framing it as an effort to create conditions for negotiations while Ukraine’s capital endures dangerously cold winter weather. The pause is expected to last until February 1, 2026. No attacks were recorded on Kyiv overnight as of January 30, marking an immediate if fragile shift in the tempo of the conflict. A pause without a partner The arrangement is entirely unilateral, with no formal agreement co-signed by Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian officials acknowledged the pause but noted that no official deal exists. They expressed a willingness to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure in reciprocity, a signal of openness without commitment. Russian military operations continued in other parts of Ukraine during the pause. The three-day window applied specifically to Kyiv, not to the broader frontlines where fighting has remained intense throughout the winter months. Frozen diplomacy in a frozen city Temperatures in Kyiv were forecasted to plummet to negative 26 degree...