President Donald J. Trump revealed during a White House press conference on January 29, 2026, that he personally asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from striking Ukrainian cities during a temporary pause in fighting caused by extreme winter weather, and that Putin agreed to the request, underscoring Trump’s hands-on diplomacy aimed at limiting civilian casualties amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

During the briefing, Trump responded to questions about the severe cold gripping Ukraine, where sub-zero temperatures have frozen equipment, disrupted supply lines, and slowed military operations on both sides. Trump said he directly contacted Putin and urged him to halt airstrikes, missile attacks, and bombardments targeting civilian population centers during the cold snap, framing the appeal as a humanitarian necessity.

“I spoke with President Putin and asked him not to strike Ukrainian cities during this extreme cold period,” Trump said. “He has agreed to that. It’s the right thing. People are already suffering and dying in this weather, we don’t need more destruction on top of it.”

Temperatures in parts of eastern Ukraine have reportedly plunged as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit), creating dangerous conditions for civilians and troops alike. Trump described the request as a practical, limited de-escalation step consistent with his broader approach of direct leader-to-leader engagement and his stated goal of reducing civilian harm while pushing toward a negotiated end to the conflict, without deeper or open-ended U.S. military involvement.

The Kremlin has not formally confirmed Trump’s account, though Russian officials have acknowledged that extreme weather has constrained operations. Ukrainian officials have voiced caution, noting that sporadic attacks have continued despite the cold, but said any pause that reduces strikes on cities and civilian infrastructure could save lives.