At a cabinet meeting on March 24, the foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said the Serbian government had asked for food, medicine and medical equipment.

Russia backs Serbia in its strong opposition to Kosovo's independence declaration, made last month.

Mr Putin said the Russian aid should be "without any political colouring".

Mr Lavrov said the humanitarian situation among ethnic Serbs had deteriorated since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.

The US and most European countries have recognised Kosovo's independence.