US ponders Putin sanctions after 'despicable' air strikes

THE US is weighing up sweeping sanctions against Vladimir Putin as the despot continued missile and drone assaults which killed more than two dozen Ukrainian civilians.

- By Matt Clemenson and Will Stewart

Russia's latest wave of death and devastation saw mass strikes targeting the Kyiv region and multiple other areas. There were 578 attacks on 18 areas inside 24 hours.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared "all options are on the table" after Putin defied Donald Trump following their summit last month on US soil in Alaska.

The Kremlin dictator "has done the opposite of following through on what he indicated he wanted to do", Mr Bessent stated on Fox News, accusing Putin of deceiving the US president.

Mr Bessent added: "He has in a despicable, despicable, manner increased the bombing campaign so I think with President Trump all options are on the table. And I think we'll be examining those very closely this week."

A two-year-old girl was among four youngsters killed in an attack on Kyiv which killed 23.