(FILES) (COMBO) US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. AFP
"I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV," Trump said on social media in a rare rebuke directed at Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
"Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!"
Russia said on Thursday it had targeted Ukraine's defence industry, including plants that produced "rocket fuel and gunpowder", in overnight strikes that Kyiv says killed at least eight people.
"Overnight, the Russian armed forces carried out a massive strike with long-range air, land and sea-based weapons, and drones, on Ukraine's aviation, aerospace, machine-building and armoured vehicle industries," the defence ministry said, adding: "The objectives of the strike have been achieved".
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia's large-scale missile attack on Kyiv, the deadliest strike on the Ukrainian capital in months, was designed to put "pressure" on the United States.
He also insisted that Kyiv would not change its position on Crimea -- after US President Donald Trump criticised him for not agreeing to cede the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
Zelensky is visiting South Africa but has said he will cut his trip short to return to Kyiv -- hit at dawn by the biggest Russian attack since last summer -- after his talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
"Russia understands that Ukraine is standing up, defending its rights and (it) is putting pressure on our people. It is also putting pressure on America," Zelensky told journalists in South Africa on Thursday. "This is what I also link today's attack with."
Thursday's attack came hours after US President Donald Trump said a Ukraine peace deal was "very close" and effectively closed with Moscow.
Zelensky insisted that Kyiv would not accept Crimea as part of Russia.
Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and backed a pro-Russian rebellion in eastern Ukraine, leading to years of conflict with Kyiv.
"We do everything that our partners have proposed, only what contradicts our legislation and the Constitution we cannot do," Zelensky said, answering a question on Crimea.
Trump said a day earlier that Kyiv had lost Crimea "years ago".
Zelensky also said he did not see enough pressure from Kyiv's allies on Moscow to halt its invasion.
"I don't see any strong pressure on Russia or any new sanctions packages against Russia's aggression," Zelensky told journalists during a visit to South Africa.
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