Ukrainian officials said the suspension applies mainly to attacks on energy infrastructure, which has been repeatedly targeted during winter. The move comes as temperatures in Kyiv are forecast to plunge dramatically, raising fears of widespread humanitarian hardship.

Authorities in Ukraine said they are prepared to reciprocate by halting strikes on certain Russian infrastructure during this period. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stressed that there is no binding truce or signed agreement between the two sides.

The decision follows intense diplomatic pressure from Washington, which has been pushing for limited confidence-building measures. Officials described the pause as an opportunity to explore negotiations rather than a breakthrough toward ending the war.

Kyiv has suffered repeated blackouts and heating outages due to sustained attacks on power facilities. With winter conditions worsening, any interruption to electricity and heating poses serious risks to civilian life.

Ukrainian authorities confirmed that no overnight strikes were reported on major energy facilities after the announcement. Still, military officials warned that Russia has shifted focus toward logistics and supply routes in recent days.

In Moscow, officials acknowledged that the request came directly from Trump and was accepted to create space for talks. They emphasized that the halt is temporary and conditional, not a permanent change in military strategy.

Residents of Kyiv remain skeptical that the pause will hold or lead to lasting relief. Many say they have grown accustomed to short-lived promises that fail to stop long-term attacks.

“I don’t trust any of it,” said a retired resident in the capital, reflecting widespread public doubt. People fear that strikes could resume at full force once the pause expires.

Ukraine’s air defenses have been stretched thin after months of heavy drone and missile attacks. Delays in deliveries of air defense systems have worsened the country’s ability to protect major cities.

Officials said European funding delays affected shipments of key defensive equipment through U.S. programs. This left Kyiv vulnerable during recent waves of strikes that knocked out heating across entire districts.

Despite the halt over Kyiv, Ukrainian military sources reported continued clashes and strikes in other regions. Fighting remains intense along eastern front lines, particularly in the Donetsk region.

Russia continues to advance slowly in contested areas, maintaining pressure far beyond the capital. Analysts say this underscores how limited and fragile the current pause really is.

Weather forecasts indicate temperatures could drop as low as minus 26 degrees Celsius from Sunday. Hundreds of residential buildings are still without heating, deepening concerns for elderly and vulnerable residents.

Diplomatic efforts remain complicated by unresolved issues, especially territory and control of strategic sites. Ukraine has firmly rejected any proposal that involves surrendering land captured during the war.

Officials said the idea of suspending strikes on energy facilities was discussed during recent talks abroad. Future meetings may be delayed or relocated due to shifting global diplomatic priorities.

Despite cautious language from leaders, many Ukrainians see little reason for optimism. They say survival through another harsh winter remains the immediate priority.

Speaking after the talks, Zelenskiy said the framework for security guarantees for Ukraine had been finalised, marking a key step forward in negotiations that Kyiv sees as essential to any lasting peace. However, he stressed that territorial integrity remains the most sensitive and unresolved issue, underscoring the deep divisions that still exist between the warring sides.

Zelenskiy also announced that negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States are set to hold trilateral talks for the first time in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday. He framed the meetings as a positive development and a potential breakthrough, as direct engagement among all three parties has been limited since the conflict began.

Alongside security discussions, Zelenskiy said an agreement on Ukraine’s post-war economic recovery is close to completion. Such a deal would be a cornerstone of Kyiv’s strategy to rebuild infrastructure and revive growth after years of devastation, while also countering earlier peace proposals that Ukrainian officials believe leaned too heavily in Moscow’s favour.

Both leaders struck an optimistic tone after their meeting. Trump told reporters the discussion with Zelenskiy had been good and described the peace process as ongoing, while reiterating his belief that the war must end. He confirmed that U.S. envoys were travelling to Moscow to continue talks, adding to a flurry of high-level diplomatic activity.

Zelenskiy, who has made security guarantees a precondition for broader negotiations, said earlier this week that he would only attend Davos if agreements with Washington could be reached. Ukraine continues to face an energy crisis at home after repeated Russian air strikes damaged power and heating infrastructure, leaving millions without basic services during winter.

The Ukrainian leader accused Russia of attempting to freeze civilians into submission through sustained attacks on energy facilities, describing the strategy as a form of warfare against the population. He questioned why Russian President Vladimir Putin had not yet faced accountability, drawing comparisons with other international cases pursued by the United States.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said progress was being made in peace talks after meeting Ukrainian and Russian officials in Davos. He added that if all sides genuinely wanted a solution, an agreement was achievable, echoing cautious optimism among diplomats observing the process.

Witkoff and fellow U.S. envoy Jared Kushner were expected to meet Putin in Moscow later on Thursday, before heading to Abu Dhabi for further discussions. The talks are set to include military-level contacts and debate over a broader economic package linked to a potential settlement.

Russia has reacted cautiously to the U.S.-led initiative, maintaining demands that Ukraine cede parts of eastern territory, including areas Moscow has struggled to fully control militarily. Putin has said discussions would include reconstruction of occupied regions and proposals for new international peace mechanisms.

Financial markets responded positively to the diplomatic activity, with Ukraine’s international bonds rallying as investors grew hopeful that negotiations could lead to an end to Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. Despite the talks, fighting continued on the ground, with Russian strikes hitting several Ukrainian cities and causing civilian casualties.