PARIS: The Eiffel Tower lit up on Friday in blue and yellow, the national colours of Ukraine, at the request of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. The act was to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s attack, said the mayor.

Russian missiles pounded Kyiv, families cowered in shelters and authorities told people to prepare petrol bombs to defend their capital, as Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the Ukrainian military to seize power and make peace.

French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken to both US President Joe Biden and Putin in trying to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis.