RUSSIAN drones and missiles struck sites across Ukraine today, killing at least six people, including a woman and her two young daughters, officials said.

It came as US proposals on a ceasefire floundered and Ukraine’s president sought more foreign military help.

The attacks came in waves overnight and targeted at least eight cities, as well as a village in the Kiev region where a strike set fire to a house housing a mother and her six-month and 12-year-old daughters, regional head Mykola Kalashnyk said.

At least 29 people, including five children, were wounded in Kiev.

Russian drones also hit a nursery in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, while children were inside, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. 

One person was killed and six were injured, though no children were physically harmed. 

President Volodymyr Zelensky said many of the children were in shock.

Russia fired 405 drones and 28 missiles, mainly targeting Kiev, Ukraine’s air force said.

US President Donald Trump, who has recently proposed both a ceasefire on the line of control and Ukrainian territorial concessions to end the war, said plans for a swift meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin were on hold, as he did not want it to be a “waste of time.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the summit requires careful preparation, suggesting that laying the groundwork could be lengthy.

Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky urged the EU, US and Group of Seven nations to pressure Moscow “through sanctions, long-range capabilities and co-ordinated diplomacy.”

He credited Mr Trump’s consideration of supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine for Mr Putin’s willingness to meet, though the US president said he was cautious about using existing missile stocks.

Ukraine’s army said its forces struck a chemical plant in Russia’s Bryansk region overnight with British-made Storm Shadow missiles. 

The plant produces explosives, missile fuel and ammunition. 

Ukraine also claimed attacks on a mechanical plant in Mordovia and an oil refinery in Dagestan. 

Russia said its air defences downed 33 Ukrainian drones, temporarily suspending eight airports.

Mr Zelensky visited Oslo and Stockholm today, signing an agreement to explore purchasing up to 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets. 

Ukraine has already received US F-16s and French Mirages. 

Mr Trump was scheduled to meet Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte today, while the EU summit tomorrow in Brussels will discuss further sanctions on Russia.