Putin Breaks Trump Ceasefire Vow, Shows True Stance On Peace

Vladimir Putin bombarded Ukraine with strikes overnight, days after Donald Trump claimed the Russian president had agreed to a weeklong ceasefire.

The US president told a Cabinet meeting on Thursday that he had asked Putin not to attack Ukraine’s capital Kyiv “and the various towns for a week and he agreed to do that” as temperatures plummet to -20C.

Trump said it was “very nice” of Putin to listen to him, adding: “A lot of people said, ‘Don’t waste the call. You’re not going to get that,’ and he did it and we’re very happy that they did it.’”

Trump did not say when this period was supposed to start or end.

His remarks left many in Ukraine bewildered, considering targeted Russian strikes have been taking out Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for months, leaving much of the population without power or heat.

Although there were no strikes on the Kyiv region in particular that night, Ukraine’s air forces said Russia had fired a ballistic missile and launched more than 100 drones at the country in 15 locations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov then claimed any ceasefire was meant to end on February 1.

Speaking on January 30, he told reporters: “I can say that President Trump did indeed make a personal request to President Putin to refrain from striking Kyiv for a week until February 1 in order create more hospitable conditions for negotiations.”

Asked if Putin accepted the request, he said: “Yes, of course.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded the same day, saying his forces would show the same restraint and avoid attacking Russia’s energy infrastructure as long as the ceasefire held.

Kyiv said the truce was supposed to be in effect a week from January 30.

Russian drone strikes then killed 12 miners on February 1 in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

And, late on Monday night – February 2 – Kyiv was rocked with huge explosions and reports that both nonresidential and civilian buildings had been hit.

Ukrainian energy company DTEK Group announced on Tuesday morning that Russia had attacked its thermal power plants and damaged critical energy infrastructure “during freezing winter conditions”.

DTEK said in a social media post: “The attack damaged critical equipment at a time when heat and electricity are essential. Energy workers began repairs immediately and are working closely with Ukrenergo to keep the system stable.

“This was the ninth large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy sector since October 2025.”

The huge strikes came hours after Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday: “I think we’re doing very well with Ukraine and Russia.

“For the first time, I’m saying that. I think we’re going to, maybe, have some good news.”

The Financial Times’ chief correspondent in Kyiv, Christopher Miller, shared a post on Tuesday showing just how many drones had attacked overnight.

Zelenskyy wrote on X that this was a “targeted attack specifically on energy facilities” using more than 70 missiles – including a “significant number of ballistic” missiles – and 450 attack drones.

The strikes hit areas across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa and Vinnytsia.

He said nine people so far have been reported injured, and residential buildings and energy infrastructure have been hit.

“Taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorise people is more important to Russia than turning to diplomacy,” the Ukrainian president wrote.

“And this very clearly shows what is needed from our partners and what can help. Timely delivery of missiles for air defence systems and the protection of normal life are our priority.

“Without pressure on Russia, there will be no end to this war. Right now, Moscow is choosing terror and escalation, and that is why maximum pressure is required. I thank all our partners who understand this and are helping us.”

Ukraine, Russia and the US are set to resume their trilateral peace talks in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that Ukraine has agreed with western partners that any persistent Russian violations of a future ceasefire deal with trigger a co-ordinated response from both Europe and the US.