U.S. President Donald Trump requested that Russia pause its airstrikes on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, until February 1, according to the Kremlin’s statements on Friday. This comes as officials from Ukraine and Russia prepare for a second round of trilateral discussions with U.S. representatives in Abu Dhabi, set for this weekend.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters that Trump indeed made a personal appeal to President Putin, asking him to hold off on attacking Kyiv for a week to foster better conditions for negotiations.

When asked whether Putin had consented to this request, Peskov confirmed, “Yes, of course.”

On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned to the press on Friday that his forces would refrain from striking Russian energy facilities if Russia reciprocated.

The day prior, Trump stated in a White House cabinet meeting that he had urged Putin not to target Kyiv and its surrounding areas for a week due to the extreme cold, although he did not specify when he made this request.

Peskov did not reference the weather in his remarks to the media, describing the pause in strikes as a sign of goodwill amid ongoing peace negotiations. He also did not clarify whether the ceasefire would apply only to Kyiv or to other areas as well.

Severe cold weather is predicted to hit much of Eastern Europe this weekend, including Ukraine, where it is expected to persist at least until next Wednesday. Temperatures in Kyiv are anticipated to drop to minus 26 degrees Celsius (minus 14 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday.

In recent weeks, Russian airstrikes have heavily impacted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving many residents in Kyiv without heating.

This week, the city has not reported any significant drone or missile attacks. The last major Russian assault on Kyiv occurred during the night of January 23-24.

Reporting contributed by AFP.