Russia Says U.S. Building 'New Berlin Wall'

In comments aired on the Rossiya television channel, Ivanov said placing rockets in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic "presents an obvious threat to Russia."

Russia has continually voiced its opposition to the U.S. missile-defense system that Washington says is meant to offer protection against attacks from Iran and North Korea.

Washington's plans for the missile shield have led to a further deterioration of already unsteady relations between Russia and the United States in recent months.

Russia has proposed creating a joint missile-defense system with United States and NATO participation as an alternative to Washington's current  plan, but U.S. officials have treated the proposal cautiously.

(Interfax, AFP)