Azarov said Monday that such a system close to the Ukrainian border would be a target of attack and threaten to suck Ukraine into a conflict.

Washington says it wants to build missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic to counter a possible threat by North Korean and Iranian long-range missiles.

Russia has also called the plans a mistake and has noted that neither North Korea nor Iran have such missiles.

The Pentagon has acknowledged that Iran does not currently possess long-range missiles, but says it is important to stay one step ahead. - VOA News