A Russian strike on the west Ukrainian city of Ternopil on Wednesday killed at least 25 people, including three children, ripping off the top floors of a block of flats and overshadowing President Volodymyr Zelensky's push to revive a peace process in Turkey.

A US official said however that US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff will not be attending talks in Turkey, casting further doubt as to what the Ukrainian leader could achieve there.

The attack on Ternopil was the deadliest for weeks and the worst on the west of the country -- far from the frontline -- since Moscow invaded in 2022.

AFP saw dozens of rescuers searching through rubble after the strike, using cranes to get to the destroyed building. Thick grey smoke engulfed the streets just after explosions were heard at 7

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