Russia Warns West Against Destroying Nuclear Parity

The United States and other NATO countries should reconsider making unilateral steps in the area of missile defense that could destroy nuclear parity and prompt an adequate response from Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

"The United States and other NATO countries, in our opinion, should abandon harmful unilateral steps in the sphere of missile defense so that they could stop worrying about the consequences," the ministry's spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich, said in a statement.

Lukashevich's comments come after strong reactions from European officials to an opinion peace penned by Russian Ambassador to Denmark, Mikhail Vanin.

In his article, published by the Jyllands-Posten newspaper last week, Vanin warned that Denmark's navy could become a target for Russian nuclear missiles if Copenhagen decides to join the US-led European missile shield.

Danish lawmakers approved in August 2014 that the country could contribute to NATO's missile defense system with at least one frigate, equipped with new radar systems.

Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over the project, which the alliance has claimed is aimed primarily at countering threats from countries such as North Korea and Iran.