The Kremlin warned that US President Donald Trump's promise to provide more weapons to Kiev and the threat of sanctions against Russian trading partners could encourage Ukraine and further delay the already delayed peace efforts.

A day earlier, Trump gave Russia 50 days to reach a peace deal with Ukraine, expressing fresh frustration with Moscow as he unveiled an agreement with NATO to provide new military aid to Kiev, sponsored by alliance members.

The Republican forced Moscow and Kiev to start peace talks to end the conflict, which is now in its fourth year, but Russia has rejected calls for a ceasefire and in recent months has fired a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine.

Moscow said it needed more time to respond comprehensively to Trump's statement, but hinted that it did not look favorable for successful negotiations, AFP reported.

"It seems that such a decision, taken in Washington and in NATO countries, and directly in Brussels, will be perceived by Kiev not as a signal for peace, but for the continuation of the war," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"President Trump's statement is very serious. We definitely need time to analyze what was said in Washington," he added in Moscow's first reaction to the comments.

Trump warned that if no agreement is reached, he will impose heavy tariffs on Russia's other trading partners to prevent Moscow from financing its military offensive.

Supported by huge government spending on soldiers and weapons, as well as the redirection of vital energy exports to countries such as China and India, the Russian economy has so far defied Western hopes that sanctions would plunge it into a deep recession. | BGNES