US President Donald Trump has described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a professional” who has effectively handled Western sanctions amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The remarks followed a one-hour phone call between the two leaders where Trump pressed Putin on ending the war.

It was the latest in a series of almost weekly large-scale missile and drone attacks. President Trump said he “didn’t make any progress” with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

Russia launched a record number of drones at Ukraine overnight into Friday, striking multiple buildings and residential areas, hours after US President Donald Trump said he had made “no progress” towards a ceasefire deal in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.