Moscow, Russia - Russia has responded to the US' latest sanctions, and possibly its recent arms sale to Ukraine, with a warning that it could conduct mass "military deterrence."

Former Russian Prime Minister and current Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, hinted at Russia's response but didn't provide details on what these deterrence measures will look like in practice.

They come in response to a bill, signed by President Donald Trump on Friday, which introduces a massive set of new sanctions designed to put pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine. Congress gave its approval for the measures following months of debate.

The legislation, named after the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, takes aim at Russia's energy and defence sectors, alongside Putin and other senior Kremlin officials.

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"Even across the ocean, they hear only the language of direct military deterrence, and that is the language in which we should respond to Russophobic atrocities, such as the law of the dead terrorist, Graham," Medvedev wrote on Telegram.

His comments happen to follow the State Department's announcement on Friday of a potential $2.68 billion sale of air defense equipment to Ukraine.

The State Department said in a congressional notification that it made "a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine" for buying air defense development upgrades and related equipment and services.

Kyiv has requested to buy equipment including multiple types of missiles, launchers, counterdrone radars and trailers, according to the State Department. The proposed sale is subject to congressional review.

"If the proposed purchase is concluded, Ukraine would finance it using a combination of European contributions and US Foreign Military Financing appropriated during the prior Administration," the State Department said.