MOSCOW, December 18 (Sputnik) — Washington creates threats for Russia by deploying its global missile defense system's elements in Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
"They have been deploying strategic missile defense elements not only on Alaska, but also in Europe, in Poland and Romania, right at our borders," the Russian leader told reporters.
Russia has repeatedly urged the international community to address the issue of the expansion of the global US anti-missile defense shield.
Washington is planning to install an Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense complex in Romania by 2015, and a similar system in Poland by 2018, according to the US Missile Defense Agency.
Under NATO’s planned missile defense system, radars and interceptors will be placed in several NATO countries, including Romania, Turkey, Spain and Poland. The defense shield will also be reinforced by marine-based systems.
