Several Ukrainian cities along with neighboring Moldova experienced emergency power cuts on Saturday, officials confirmed. This occurred amid a pledge from the Kremlin to U.S. President Donald Trump to halt strikes on Kyiv as Ukraine grapples with severe winter conditions.

According to Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, the power outages were caused by a technical issue affecting the power lines connecting Ukraine and Moldova. This malfunction led to a chain reaction in Ukraine’s power grid, activating automatic protection systems.

Reports indicated blackouts in Kyiv, as well as in the Zhytomyr and Kharkiv regions in the central and northeastern parts of the country. The power outage also disrupted water supplies in Kyiv, and the city’s subway services were briefly halted due to low voltage.

Moldova also faced significant power disruptions, including in the capital city of Chisinau, officials stated. Moldova’s Energy Minister, Dorin Junghietu, urged calm among the population until electricity services could be restored.

Unusually Cold Winter

The widespread outage followed a series of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s already struggling energy infrastructure, resulting in prolonged power shortages. Moscow’s tactics of depriving Ukrainian civilians of basic necessities like heat, light, and water during the conflict have intensified the challenges faced by the population.

This winter’s temperatures have dropped lower than usual, exacerbating the difficulties for civilians. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine forecasted an extended period of severe cold, with temperatures in some areas expected to plummet to –30°C.

Trump announced that Putin had agreed to temporarily pause targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities amid the severe weather conditions. The White House did not immediately provide details on the extent and timing of this temporary halt.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Trump’s request to pause strikes on Kyiv until Sunday to facilitate negotiations between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi next week.

Previous talks in late January involved officials from the Trump administration meeting with negotiators from Ukraine and Russia simultaneously. However, obstacles to achieving peace, particularly regarding the status of occupied Ukrainian territories, remain unresolved.

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev indicated his presence in Miami for discussions with an American delegation, as reported by Russian state news agencies.

Temporary Halt in Attacks

Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia targeted Ukrainian energy assets in various regions on Thursday but refrained from strikes on those facilities overnight. He highlighted that Russian forces shifted focus to Ukrainian logistics networks and continued launching drones and missiles at residential areas.

Trump portrayed Putin’s acceptance of the pause in strikes as a concession, although Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Russia’s intentions to end the war despite ongoing peace efforts.

In Kyiv, residents gathered along the frozen Dnipro River, engaging in activities while enduring cold homes without essential services. The skepticism among Ukrainians regarding the prospects of peace negotiations with Russia was evident.

Citizens like Serhii Kupov and Albina Sokur expressed doubts about achieving peace through negotiations, emphasizing the need for a definitive resolution to the conflict.