Russia threatens to 'break out' western anti-missile defense

Moscow will create a system to overcome and suppress any anti-missile defense so as to ensure real security, a top official said Friday.

"Our task is to create a real guarantee of security for the Russian Federation by arming the Russian forces with equipment capable to counter any attempts to offset the strategic balance," Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told a local radio station.

Rogozin, who is in charge of technical provisions of the airspace defense, said Russia is considering two ways of implementing such task: to create the defensive systems capable of intercepting incoming missiles or to upgrade its own first-strike nuclear forces so as to overcome any anti-missile umbrella.

"We, of course, will create the system of overcoming and suppressing any anti-missile defense. If somebody thinks it is possible to surround us with an anti-missile fence, we will break out everything, the entire wall, if someone would attempt to isolate or to kneel us down," Rogozin said.

The official said all military and technical decisions for such development have been made.

Moscow has long opposed to the deployment of U.S.-led European missile defense facilities near its borders and called for legally binding guarantees from the U.S. and NATO that the missile shield will not target Russia.

On Thursday, Russia's Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov said there had been no progress in Russia-U.S. talks over the missile defense issue.

In May, Russian Defense Ministry threatened to destroy U.S. missile defense facilities in Europe if Moscow considers them as real threats.

Rogozin also warned that Russia stood against militarization of the space but had everything in hand to "give an adequate response " to any attacks from the space.

"Obviously, the long-term space stations will be created for not only civil but, perhaps, for military purpose. Today it is impossible to draw the line between civil and military space ( programs)," Rogozin said.