FLASH
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It's very cold in Kiev, many homes are still without electricity. Now at least there's hope that no further Russian attacks will cause more damage before Sunday.
Russia says it will suspend strikes on Ukraine, but only until Sunday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that US President Donald Trump had personally asked Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin to halt strikes on Kiev until February 1, in order to create better conditions for negotiations.
Trump said Thursday night that he had asked Putin for a week-long ceasefire in a phone call because of an approaching cold snap and that the Kremlin leader had agreed. However, Putin apparently decided against it. For now, only two days are in effect. Trump's request was prompted by the forecast of extremely cold temperatures.
Peskov confirms, but remains unclear
When asked if Moscow agreed with Trump's proposal, Peskov said: "Yes, of course." The Kremlin spokesman declined to answer further questions. Among other things, it remains unclear whether the agreement applies only to energy infrastructure or to all air strikes, and when the strikes would actually stop.
Russia recently attacked Ukrainian energy facilities in several regions on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday. He also wrote on social media that Russia had shifted its focus to Ukraine's logistics networks.
Russian drones and missiles struck residential areas again last night, as they have done most nights since the war began. Zelenskyy expressed skepticism. "I don't believe that Russia wants to end the war. There are many signs to the contrary."
Zelensky stressed that there is no formal agreement or direct dialogue with Russia. However, Ukraine is prepared to stop its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure if Moscow stops bombing Ukraine's power grid and other energy facilities.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 111 drones and one ballistic missile were fired towards Ukraine overnight. At least three people were injured. The Russian Defense Ministry, for its part, stated that its air defenses had intercepted 18 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, the annexed Crimean Peninsula and the Black Sea.
Kiev has recently experienced repeated power outages. An extreme cold wave with temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius is expected this weekend.
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