US President Donald Trump has called on Vladimir Putin to halt attacks on Ukraine, in a rare rebuke of the Russian leader after Moscow fired missiles and drones at Kyiv in the deadliest attack on the capital in months.

Trump decried Russia's massive aerial barrage on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, overnight as "not necessary," saying "Vladimir, STOP" in a message to Putin.

President Trump issued rare criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia unleashed a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight just hours after Trump had claimed Putin was ready to make peace.