VLADIMIR Putin has bombarded Kyiv with ballistic missile and drone strikes, killing at least two people and forcing Nato planes to scramble.

The brutal overnight onslaught came as Donald Trump’s peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner left the Ukrainian capital after three days of talks with Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russian missile strike in KyivColumns of smoke rise above Kyiv after a brutal Russian missile and drone barrage Credit: Reuters Aftermath of a Russian missile and drone attack in KyivA firefighter works at the site of a business targeted in the onslaught Credit: Reuters

Putin’s pounding of Kyiv has cast doubt on Trump’s startling claims that the Russian dictator was “ready to negotiate” and “discuss” avenues to restart peace talks.

Drones and fearsome Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers targeted civilians in the latest barrage, striking the upper floors of a 26-storey tower block.

A major fire was also ignited at a multinational food packaging and processing factory in the city’s north following Iskander-M/Kn-23 ballistic missile strikes.

The Kremlin claimed today that it hit stores of cruise missiles and drones in Kyiv and Kyiv region, as well as Chornomorsk Port.

Zelensky said: “The attack was complex, and the Russians deliberately planned it to cause as much damage as possible to people’s lives, using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and Shahed drones.

“There is significant damage to residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure in the capital.”

Poland meanwhile scrambled fighter jets in a “preventive” measure due to the powerful strikes.

“Due to the activity of long-range Russian air forces conducting strikes on Ukrainian territory, military aviation has begun operating in Polish airspace,” said Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.

“Ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of readiness.”