Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will counter NATO's U.S.-led missile defense program by deploying new strike weapons capable of piercing the shield.
Putin argued that by developing defenses against ballistic missiles, Washington aims to neutralize Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent, and gain decisive military superiority in doing so, according to The Associated Press.
He said Moscow will respond by developing weapon systems capable of penetrating "any missile defenses" and revealed that Russian arms makers have already built and tested such weapons systems, which have already entered combat duty this year.
He added that Russia is considering working on the development of its own missile defense systems in the future, though for now the primary focus will be to commission new strike weapons.
This development comes as Russia's relations with the U.S. and its NATO allies have fallen to their lowest point since the Cold War over the crisis in Ukraine, according to the Star Tribune.
Kremlin has protested for many years the development of the U.S.-led missile shield, saying it could eventually become capable of intercepting Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles, which would weaken the nation's nuclear deterrent.
Conversely, Washington asserts that the shield wouldn't be able capable of defensing against Russia's nuclear arsenal and is instead aimed at fending off missiles from nations who it has no ties with, such as Iran and North Korea, according to ABC News.
However, Putin argued Tuesday that such precautions should no longer be necessary following Iran's deal with six world powers to curb its nuclear program.
"So, references to the Iranian and the North Korean nuclear missile threat just have served to cover up the true plans, and their true task is to neutralize nuclear potential of other nuclear powers, ... Russia in particular," Putin said. "Regrettably, our concerns and cooperation proposals haven't been taken into account."
