Ukrainian officials said the attack looked like an emphatic response by Russian President Vladimir Putin to moves from Kyiv’s allies to seek a peace deal.

On Nov. 17, Russia launched one of its largest air attacks on Ukraine. This was a response from Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to those who have called and visited him, said Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Oleksandr Sybiha.

By Thomas Escritt BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his conversation with Vladimir Putin on Friday had given no indication of a shift in the Russian President's thinking on the war in Ukraine,

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his conversation with Vladimir Putin on Friday had given no indication of a shift in the Russian President's thinking on the war in Ukraine but defended his much-criticised decision to phone the Kremlin.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave support to the decision by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to speak directly with Vladimir Putin on Friday, saying that ending the war will require some engagement with Russia’s president.