According to a press release issued by the Romanian ministry, Putin’s remarks "show ignorance toward the real situation that Romania and its allies have repeatedly explained, saying that the missile defense system has an exclusively defensive nature."
The ministry noted that the missile defense system "is not directed against Russia or any other country," adding that Putin’s remarks are "surprisingly put in the framework of the regional security aspect."
Since 2014, NATO, and the United States in particular, has been building up its military presence in Europe, particularly in eastern European countries bordering Russia, using Moscow's alleged interference in Ukraine's affairs as a pretext for the move.
Russia has repeatedly warned that NATO's military build-up in Europe is provocative and can result in regional and global destabilization.