Russia Says It Will Target U.S. Missile Shield

Russia has again warned the U.S. about deploying a missile defense system in Europe, with President Dmitry Medvedev saying his nation will deploy new missiles aimed at the shield if the U.S. goes forward with its plan.

Russia said its missiles will be capable of penetrating a U.S. missile shield and added that it may deploy additional weapons to the west and south - - literally on the border of European Union -- to counteract the system the U.S. is building with its NATO allies, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Russia's Sphere of Influence

Russia, which has suffered from historically land invasions from the west, including from Napoleon's France and Adolph Hitler's Nazi Germany in World War II, considers the U.S./NATO plan to build a missile shield in Europe, including in Romania and Poland, to be a threat to its nuclear forces.

The United States counters, arguing that the missile shield is meant to defend Europe from a potential attack from Iran.

Other military measures outlined by Medvedev included the placement of an early-warning radar in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and the increased protection of nuclear deterrent assets around the vast country, which covers 11 time zones.

START in Jeopardy?

Medvedev also warned that Russia may opt-out of the new START arms control deal with the United States and also halt other arms control deals if the U.S. proceeds with the missile shield plan, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.

In a live Wednesday broadcast on national television, Medvedev said the U.S. and NATO had failed to take our concerns about the European missile defense into account, RIA.ru reported.

If there was no progress on the issue, Medvedev said, Russia would deploy in the west and the south of the country advanced offensive weapon systems which will target the European component of the missile defense network, RIA.ru reported.