(CNN) -- Tensions between the United States and Russia ratcheted up another notch Thursday, with accusations flying over ballistic missiles and human rights.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Washington of touching off a new arms race with its plans to set up a missile defense shield in Europe.
Putin said Russia's testing of new intercontinental and cruise missiles earlier this week was "aimed at maintaining the balance of forces in the world."
"Our partners are filling Eastern Europe with new weapons," he told reporters in Moscow in a joint news conference with Greek President Carolos Papoulias.
"What are we supposed to do? We cannot just observe all this. In our opinion, it is nothing different from 'diktat,' nothing different from imperialism."
Washington is currently discussing deployment of parts of the system with Poland and the Czech Republic.
The White House denied that a new Cold War is beginning and said the system is designed to defend allies vulnerable to ballistic missiles. White House spokesman Tony Snow said Washington is trying to reassure Russia that the anti-missile system is a defensive -- and not aggressive -- deployment.
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