Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says a planned U.S. missile defense system in eastern Europe is aimed at Russia.
Mr.Medvedev's remark comes one day after U.S. and Polish negotiatorsreached a preliminary agreement to deploy part of the system in Poland.
Earlier,Russian officials said the timing of the agreement - reached during thecrisis with Georgia - proves the missile shield is not related to athreat from Iran, as the United States has claimed.
U.S.Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking in Tbilisi Friday, saidU.S. officials have made extensive efforts to assure Russia themissiles are only for defensive purposes.
The United States and Poland have been discussing the missile defense plan for the past 18 months.
Atop Russian general, General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, also said Poland'sagreement to host the missile defense system exposes the country to thethreat of attack.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said anumber of details remain to be resolved before the two countries sign afinal agreement.
Mr. Tusk said the United States had agreed to Polish demands for greater military cooperation.
U.S.President George Bush's spokeswoman, Dana Perino, says the White Housewelcomes Thursday's preliminary agreement, saying missile defense is ahuge contribution to NATO's collective security.
The UnitedStates wants to base 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radarsystem in the Czech Republic as part of a system to counter missileattacks from hostile states. Prague has already agreed to the deal.