Air attacks damage houses in Kyiv; French president says he told Trump deal should be ‘substantial for Ukraine’

• Macron warns against ‘surrender’ in Ukraine

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone on Monday night, reiterating their strong bilateral relationship which they said had played a stabilising role in international relations.

The call, reportedly requested by Putin, likely reassures Xi that the “limitless partnership” they signed in 2022 shortly before the Ukraine invasion, remains intact despite Trump’s increasingly favourable approach towards Russia. Trump is continuing to wage trade hostilities against China.