Russia says it has halted attacks on Ukrainian cities including Kyiv at the request of Donald Trump.
Ukraine is currently experiencing a bitterly cold winter with temperatures reportedly down to -20°C in some places.
At the same time, Russia’s repeated targeting of energy infrastructure has left many people without heating and electricity.
The European Union has sent hundreds of back-up generators to help Ukraine get through one of the most difficult periods since the start of the war.
Ireland has announced an extra €25 million to go to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund (UESF).
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, said “Russia is cynically weaponising these extreme winter conditions against the people of Ukraine by systematically degrading Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure.”
US President Trump said last night that he had asked Russia’s President Putin for a one-week halt to bombing Ukrainian cities.
This morning, the official spokesperson for the Russian government confirmed that a ceasefire on cities would last until 1 February, the day after tomorrow.
“Ireland will continue to support Ukraine as long as is needed while it endures Russia’s continuing war of aggression and also on its road to recovery and reconstruction”, said Minister of State for International Development, Neale Richmond TD.
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy has reportedly confirmed that “if Russia does not strike our energy infrastructure…we will not strike theirs.”