Trump defends Putin after Russia's largest 2026 strike on Ukraine
President Donald Trump came to the defense of Russian President Vladimir Putin following Moscow's resumption of devastating strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Trump claimed Putin had kept his word on a brief suspension of attacks, even though the pause lasted just four days instead of the promised week.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump noted the truce ran from Sunday to Sunday before Russia struck hard again the previous evening. He described a week as substantial relief amid Ukraine's freezing conditions, where temperatures plunged below -20°C.
The assault marked Russia's biggest offensive of 2026, with Ukrainian officials reporting over 450 drones and 70 missiles targeting power facilities. It left more than 1,000 residential buildings in Kyiv without heat and inflicted severe damage on electrical plants in Kharkiv.
Trump's remarks drew sharp criticism amid conflicting timelines. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had described the ceasefire as starting January 30 and extending to Tuesday, while the Kremlin pegged it at ending February 1. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump was unsurprised by the breach, framing it as part of a prolonged brutal war between the two nations.
Zelensky accused Moscow of using the U.S.-proposed pause not for diplomacy but to restock missiles and strike during the coldest days. In his evening address, he questioned the reliability of Russian commitments and called for accountability.
The attack unfolded hours before a new round of U.S.-mediated peace talks scheduled for February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi, where Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are set to participate. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, visiting Kyiv, condemned the nighttime barrages as evidence of Moscow's lack of genuine interest in peace. Addressing Ukraine's parliament, he reaffirmed NATO's support and dismissed Putin's strategy of waiting out the alliance.
In a show of allied solidarity, Sweden and Denmark announced a joint purchase of Tridon air defense systems worth $290 million for Ukraine. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated the systems would counter Russia's escalated drone campaign against civilian infrastructure.
While Trump expressed a desire for Putin to end the war, he offered no specifics on repercussions for violating the energy truce. Zelensky indicated Ukraine awaits a U.S. response to the strikes.
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