Malta’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg has denounced Russia’s deadly strikes on Kyiv as a “cowardly” attack.

“Missiles fell before dawn, tearing through homes, shattering lives. A cowardly act. Innocents suffer while the world watches,” Borg said.

“We stand with Ukraine, with every grieving family, every soul still holding on.”

The attack on Kyiv killed at least 12 people, including two children, and injured several others. A house, some other buildings and cars were set ablaze and falling debris caused extensive damage in several districts.

Russia also carried out strikes against Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities.

It is the latest obstacle in US efforts to advance a peace deal between the two countries, which Donald Trump had pledged to do quickly in his election campaign last year.

Trump yesterday said he “isn’t happy” with the attacks and told Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop.

At a press conference, Trump said he would wait a week “to see if we have a deal”,  but that “things will happen” if the bombings don’t end.