Russia’s latest overnight assault on Ukraine has shattered hopes for a brief respite amid a brutal cold snap.

Russian forces launched attacks across multiple Ukrainian regions overnight into Saturday, killing at least five people and injuring over a dozen, despite a personal request from President Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin for a one-week pause in strikes. The barrage included 85 drones, with 55 identified as Shahed-type by Ukraine’s Air Force. While Kyiv was spared, areas like Donetsk and Kherson suffered heavy losses, with damaged homes and infrastructure, as millions endure power outages amid freezing temperatures dropping to minus 13.

The violence comes as diplomatic efforts falter, with planned trilateral peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. in Abu Dhabi on Sunday now in doubt, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A U.S. delegation met with a Russian envoy in Miami on Saturday, expressing cautious optimism about peace prospects. Meanwhile, emergency blackouts hit several Ukrainian regions as a major nuclear grid overloaded.

Trump’s Plea Ignored by Moscow

The NY Post has reported that the issue has sparked sharp debate over whether Moscow ever intended to honor Trump’s request. While Trump described the Russian response as “very nice,” actions on the ground tell a different story. It’s hard to see “nice” in drone strikes that kill civilians during a deadly winter.

Trump’s appeal came during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, citing the “record-setting cold” as a humanitarian concern. Yet, the Kremlin’s version, delivered by spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday, suggested the pause applied only to Kyiv, not the broader conflict zone. This narrow interpretation raises questions about miscommunication—or deliberate disregard.

“President Trump did indeed make a personal request to President Putin to refrain from striking Kyiv for a week until Feb. 1 to create favorable conditions for negotiations,” Peskov told reporters. “Yes, of course, there was a personal request from President Trump.” But with strikes hitting Donetsk, Kherson, and Sumy, it’s clear the Kremlin’s commitment was paper-thin at best.

Devastation Across Ukrainian Regions

In Donetsk, a frontline region, the toll was grim: two killed, three wounded, and nearly 200 evacuated, including 35 children. Regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin reported widespread damage to homes, cars, and heating systems—cruel blows as temperatures plummet.

Southern Kherson fared no better, with two dead and ten injured, including a 14-year-old boy, as strikes battered 14 high-rise buildings and five homes, per Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin. In Sumy, a 27-year-old woman was killed by an FPV drone, and a 63-year-old woman was injured during raids lasting over 14 hours. Over a hundred were evacuated from border areas, with authorities warning that even brief returns could be deadly.

The human cost of this conflict, especially amid a decimated energy grid, paints a stark picture of suffering. While progressive voices might push for endless aid without scrutiny, the reality is that Ukraine’s people need more than promises—they need heat, safety, and a genuine ceasefire. Throwing money at the problem without demanding accountability from all sides risks prolonging the agony.

Diplomatic Efforts Hang in Balance

Diplomatic channels, meanwhile, offer a flicker of hope but little clarity. A high-powered U.S. delegation, including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, met Russian envoy Kirill Dimitriev in Miami on Saturday. Special envoy Steve Witkoff called the talks “productive and constructive,” though concrete outcomes remain elusive.

“We are in constant communication with the American side and are expecting specific details from them regarding further meetings,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on Saturday. His words suggest Ukraine is bracing for more talks next week, even as the Abu Dhabi meeting’s collapse looms large.

Yet, skepticism is warranted when peace talks coincide with unrelenting attacks. If Russia can’t pause strikes for a week during a humanitarian crisis, what faith can there be in broader negotiations? The U.S. must push harder for tangible commitments, not just polite exchanges.

Winter War Tests Resolve

This latest escalation underscores a bitter truth: Ukraine’s civilians are caught in a geopolitical chess game, exacerbated by winter’s cruelty. Emergency blackouts and overloaded grids only deepen the crisis for millions already on the edge.

While Trump’s outreach to Putin showed a pragmatic streak worth applauding, Moscow’s response—or lack thereof—reveals the limits of personal diplomacy. Critics of endless intervention might argue the U.S. should focus on brokering real ceasefires rather than funding open-ended conflicts.

The path forward demands clarity, not just from Russia, but from all players at the table. Ukraine deserves more than half-measures during a freezing war, and the international community must prioritize results over rhetoric. If peace talks are to mean anything, they must start with stopping the drones—and the deaths.