Ukraine War: Putin’s Ceasefire & Renewed Russian Strikes – Trump Reacts

Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities were subjected to renewed Russian missile and drone strikes on February 3, 2026, ending a brief period of relative calm that coincided with diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting peace. The attacks targeted energy infrastructure, leaving tens of thousands without heat in freezing winter temperatures.

The escalation in hostilities came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested there could be “good news” regarding efforts to end the war, and a day before scheduled trilateral peace negotiations involving Ukrainian, Russian, and American officials. According to Ukrainian authorities, Tuesday’s assault was the largest of the year so far.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday that Ukraine was awaiting a response from the United States following Russia’s latest attacks on the country’s power grid. Zelenskyy noted that the initial pause in strikes on energy facilities was proposed by the U.S., and that Ukraine expected Washington to react to the resumption of attacks. “It was America’s proposal to suspend strikes on energy facilities during this period of diplomacy and cold winter weather,” he said in his nightly address.

The temporary cessation of attacks, which lasted for five days, followed a “personal request” from President Trump to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin. Putin agreed to pause attacks on major Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure until Sunday, February 1, 2026. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that Trump was not surprised by Russia’s subsequent attacks, stating that while he had hoped Putin would extend the pause and end the war, the Russian president had “kept his word” by adhering to the agreed-upon timeframe. “It was Sunday to Sunday, and it opened up and he hit ‘em hard last night,” Trump said in the Oval Office.

The attacks have significantly impacted Ukraine’s already strained power grid. Engineers working to repair damage in Kyiv’s Dorohozhychi neighborhood explained that the five-day respite was insufficient to address the underlying issues. Maxim Yevchuk, an engineer with Ukraine’s largest private electricity provider, DTEK, told CBS News that the combination of Russian attacks and extreme weather had overwhelmed the country’s power infrastructure. “Since there is currently severe frost outside, the load on the power grids and on the equipment is increasing, and it is wearing out,” Yevchuk said. He added that minor technical failures were now leading to widespread power outages.

Reports from across Ukraine indicate widespread damage. In Kyiv, explosions rattled residential areas, damaging apartment blocks and a kindergarten. In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, strikes damaged thermal energy systems, forcing officials to drain heating networks in hundreds of buildings to prevent pipes from freezing. More than 1,100 homes were left without heating in the region, according to Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba.

The timing of the renewed bombardment casts a shadow over ongoing diplomatic efforts. Discussions regarding an “energy truce” – a mutual agreement to halt attacks on each other’s power infrastructure – emerged after initial trilateral peace negotiations held in Abu Dhabi at the end of January. Ukraine has consistently stated its desire for a “dignified and lasting peace,” but officials have warned that continued attacks could derail negotiations.

The attacks involved a large-scale aerial assault utilizing drones and missiles. Ukrainian authorities reported that over 450 drones and more than 70 missiles were launched. Smoke was seen billowing from an apartment building in Kyiv after it was struck by a drone. Authorities in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa also reported Russian strikes.

Previous attempts at ceasefires in the conflict have been short-lived. A prior agreement between Putin and Trump for a 30-day halt to strikes on energy infrastructure was repeatedly undermined by accusations from both sides of violations before ultimately expiring. The current situation echoes these past instances, raising questions about the viability of sustained de-escalation in the absence of a more comprehensive agreement.

The resumption of strikes underscores the fragility of the diplomatic process and the challenges facing negotiators as they attempt to find a resolution to the conflict. The attacks also highlight the humanitarian consequences of the war, with tens of thousands of Ukrainians now facing freezing temperatures without access to heat.