Zelenskiy Cautious on Russia's Winter Strike Pause
Isaac BennettZelenskiy awaits a US-brokered Russian attack pause, cautioning it's Moscow's test.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that he anticipates Russia will follow through on an agreement for a week-long pause in attacks on Kyiv and other cities, a deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in response to winter weather.
Zelenskiy noted, however, that the coming days would serve as the real test of Moscow's commitment to the temporary halt in hostilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the media during a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, on January 25, 2026.
A Test of Moscow's Commitment
In a statement on the social media platform X, Zelenskiy confirmed that diplomatic teams had discussed the matter in the United Arab Emirates.
"We expect the agreements to be implemented," he wrote. "De-escalation steps contribute to real progress toward ending the war."
This cautious optimism suggests that while Ukraine welcomes the initiative, it remains wary of Russia's intentions and will be monitoring the situation closely.
Acknowledging Washington's Role
In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy specifically thanked Washington for its role in brokering the agreement, which he characterized as an effort to stop Russian strikes on Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure.
"Thanks to the American side for their efforts in ensuring a stop to strikes on energy (targets) at this time and let's hope that America succeeds in ensuring this," he stated.
Despite the diplomatic progress, Zelenskiy adopted a wait-and-see approach, concluding, "We shall see what the real situation is with our energy facilities and cities in the days and nights to come."
