FBI Director Kash Patel pledged at his confirmation hearing that the bureau would not look backward, but the Trump administration's fresh scrutiny of the Russia investigation has brought back into focus a years-old inquiry that continues to infuriate the Republican president.

"I was with Putin and I told him, ‘Vladimir, if you do it, we’re going to bomb the s--- out of Moscow,’" Trump revealed, according to an audio recording, also shared with CNN.

Ukraine has been hit by the biggest ever aerial attack from Russia - 728 drones and 13 cruise or ballistic missiles hit cities around the country in multiple waves.

The package could include defensive Patriot missiles and offensive medium-range rockets, but a decision on the exact equipment has not been made, the sources said.