Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a like-for-like response to a recent US missile test.
He told his Security Council today that Russia could not stand idly while also claiming Washington aimed to deploy previously banned missiles around the world.
He added that US talk of deploying new missiles in the Asia-Pacific region "affects our core interests as it is close to Russia's borders".
It comes as The Pentagon said on Monday it had tested a conventionally-configured cruise missile that hit its target after more than 500 km (310 miles) of flight.
It it the first such test since the demise of a landmark nuclear pact this month.
Washington formally withdrew from the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) on August 2 after accusing Moscow of violating it – a charge dismissed by the Kremlin.
The pact had prohibited land-based missiles with a range of 310-3,400 miles, reducing the ability of both countries to
launch a nuclear strike at short notice.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said this month he was in favour of placing ground-launched intermediate-range missiles in Asia relatively soon.
But Putin complained this week that the United States was now in a position to deploy its new land-based missile in Romania and Poland.
He said: "All this leaves no doubts that the real intention of the United States (in exiting the INF pact) was to … untie its hands to deploy previously banned missiles in different regions of the world.
"We have never wanted, do not want and will not be drawn into a costly, economically destructive arms race.
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