LONDON -- Russia overnight hit Ukraine with the biggest missile and drone attack of the war, launching a record number of drones at Kyiv, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge him to end the conflict.
Hundreds of Russian drones swarmed the capital all night as videos show huge fires and plumes of smoke billowing across the skyline. Residents described it as one of the most intense nights since the start of the full-scale invasion and people in Kyiv are waking up Friday morning to the city being blanketed by smoke from the fires still burning.
At least one person was killed and 23 people injured, according to Kyiv's mayor, as many people spent the night sheltering in the city's metro system.
Trump later held a call with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which Zelenskyy said Trump had agreed to work together to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses.
Russia launched 539 drones and around a dozen missiles, according to Ukraine's Air Force. It follows another record strike less than a week ago, as Russia has dramatically increased production of the kamikaze drones used in the attacks.
The aerial assault began shortly after Trump held a phone call with Putin, during which the Russian leader again refused to accept a ceasefire and signaled he would continue the war.
Zelenskyy called the attacks after the call "cynical," with Ukrainian officials suggesting they were meant as a blunt message from the Kremlin to accompany the call.
"Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin," Zelenskyy wrote on Friday morning. "Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror. Only around 9 a.m. today did the air raid alert end in Kyiv. It was a brutal, sleepless night."
After speaking to Trump on Friday, Zelenskyy said the call -- which was planned before the attacks -- had been "very important and fruitful." Zelenskyy said the two leaders had agreed "we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies," adding that they had agreed to a meeting between their teams.
Zelenskyy said he and Trump had also had a detailed conversation about "defense industry capabilities and joint production," saying Ukraine is ready for "direct projects" with the United States, in particular relating to drones.
Russia's huge air attacks come as the Trump administration has paused deliveries of some key weapons, including air defense missiles to Ukraine. Earlier this week, the Pentagon confirmed it had a paused a shipment of weapons earmarked for Ukraine that was already in Poland and that includes Patriot interceptor missiles, saying it was conducting a review of U.S. weapons stocks to assess its own readiness.
The move has set off alarms in Kyiv and European capitals, as well as among Democrats and some Republicans, who fear Trump is more broadly pulling back U.S. support from Ukraine.
After his call with Putin on Friday, Trump said he was "very disappointed" with the Russian leader, saying he believes he is not ready to end the war. Zelenskyy has agreed to an immediate ceasefire, but Putin has refused.
Trump has recently threatened tougher sanctions on Russia if it continues to slow walk negotiations, but so far has been reluctant to impose them.