Putin threatens to retaliate against NATO missiles if placed in nearby countries

Russian president Vladimir Putin says Russia will respond to the placement of US missiles in neighboring countries, because it threatens Russia's security.

Earlier this month, the United States launched a ground-based missile defense system in Romania. The system is meant to defend Europe against rogue states like Iran and not intended to target Moscow's missiles, Washington has said.
Speaking during his a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexi Tsiparas on Friday in Athens, Putin issued his threat .
The Russian president said strong "counter-measures" will be enacted to the NATO deployment, and he emphasized that his country is reacting to the Western action, not making the first move in a confrontation.
"This question is closed forever," said Putin.
On the missile defense system planned for deployment in Poland and Romania, Putin said: “NATO fends us off with vague statements that this is no threat to Russia.”
Recalling the stated purpose of the missile system as a "preventive measure" against possible hostile action by Iran, Putin said that threat "does not exist," particularly in the aftermath of the nuclear agreement the United States and other Western powers reached with Tehran last year.
Putin said Russia will take strong measures in the interest of its security vis-à-vis the missile deployments, but he was short on details about Moscow's plan to respond, saying only that Russia will not make the first move.

 "If yesterday in those areas of Romania people simply did not know what it means to be in the cross-hairs, then today we will be forced to carry out certain measures to ensure our security," Putin said. "I repeat that these are countermeasures, countermeasures. We will not take any first steps. It will be the same case with Poland. We will wait until Poland takes certain action. We will not take any action ... until we see rockets in areas that border us."

Romania Deveselu missile facility became operational earlier this month. Although the U.S. and NATO have repeatedly said the system is completely defensive, Putin said the missiles could easily be transformed into offensive weapons “by simply switching the software.”