One-week strike moratorium on Ukraine could benefit Russia, ISW says
Russian President Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
A one-week moratorium on Russian strikes against Ukraine announced by US President Donald Trump could benefit the Kremlin by allowing it to stockpile drones and missiles, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Analysts note that a temporary moratorium on long-range strikes could benefit Russia if both sides take part in it.
"Russian forces will be able to amass drone and missile stockpiles that it can use to launch large, combined strikes in the future, while Ukraine ceases its strikes against Russian energy infrastructure," the report says.
ISW noted that the Kremlin has previously proposed short-term ceasefires as part of cognitive warfare, seeking to demonstrate a willingness to negotiate while simultaneously rejecting calls by Ukraine and the United States for a longer or permanent moratorium on strikes against civilian infrastructure.
Energy ceasefire
On the morning of January 29, information began to spread widely on Telegram channels about an alleged halt to Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Russian military forces were reportedly banned from attacking facilities in Kyiv and the region, as well as in other regions of Ukraine.
At the same time, reports suggested that the moratorium could be bilateral and remain in effect until February 3. It was allegedly linked to another round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia scheduled for February 1.
Later in the evening, US President Donald Trump said that he had personally appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to temporarily halt strikes on Ukrainian cities during a period of severe frost. The Kremlin leader allegedly agreed.
Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed information about an energy ceasefire with Russia.
