Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that the opening of the new missile defense base in Poland is part of efforts to contain Russia by bringing US military infrastructure closer to its borders, Reuters reported, citing from BTA.
The U.S. base in Regzykowo (northern Poland) is part of NATO's broader anti-missile shield, which the alliance says is capable of intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.
Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin opposed plans to build the base as early as the turn of the century, when George W. Bush was president of the United States. He added that Putin then insisted that the US was lying in its claims that the purpose of the site was to intercept potential Iranian missiles.
„This is confirmation that President Putin was right. These plans continue to be implemented. This is an advance of the American military infrastructure on European territory towards our borders”, said Peskov.
„This is nothing but an attempt to contain our military potential and, of course, this will lead to the adoption of appropriate measures to ensure parity,” he added.
Peskov did not specify what measures Russia will take in response.