BarcelonaThe president of the United States, Donald Trump, has assured that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, has agreed to stop attacking Kyiv “and several other cities” for a week, taking into account the “extraordinary cold” in Ukraine. The American leader has said that Putin has accepted it after he asked for it. “I have personally asked President Putin not to attack Kyiv and several cities for a week, and he has agreed,” he said at a meeting of his cabinet.
He added that “many people” had advised him not to call the Kremlin leader because they considered it “a waste of time”, but he welcomed Putin’s positive response. However, he did not give further details of the call, which is part of a new round of negotiations. Last weekend, in Abu Dhabi, representatives of both Ukraine and Russia met for the first time, with the mediation of the United States. It is expected that the three-way meeting will be repeated this Sunday.
“We are very happy because the last thing they need [els ucraïnesos] is for missiles to fall on their towns and cities,” Trump added. Volodymyr Zelensky responded that he is confident that this short truce will be implemented. “Our teams discussed this in the United Arab Emirates. We hope that the agreements will be implemented,” Zelenski wrote on social networks. He added: “The de-escalation measures contribute to real progress towards the end of the war.”
The Russian bombings of the last few weeks have left millions of Ukrainians without heating or electricity, in one of the harshest winters in recent years in the country, with temperatures that have touched 20 degrees below zero. After a rise in the thermometer this week, temperatures are expected to return to frigid temperatures on Saturday.
Last Friday, the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, urged for the second time this month that the residents of the capital leave the city if they can, because of the energy crisis caused by the Russian offensive. “I address the residents with all sincerity: the situation is extremely difficult and it may get more complicated. Make sure you have reserves of food, water and essential medicines. If you have the option to go outside the city to a place with alternative sources of energy and heat, do not rule it out,” he said.
