MOSCOW, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The planned U.S. missile defense sites in eastern Europe is "an obvious threat" to Russia's security, a top Russian military commander said on Monday.

    The United States is in talks with NATO members Poland and the Czech Republic in search for a base to deploy missile defense systems in eastern Europe.

    The United States plans to deploy a missile defense radar in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland.

    "Our analysis shows that the deployment of a radar station in the Czech Republic and a counter-missile position in Poland are an obvious threat to us," Space Forces Commander Col. Gen. Vladimir Popovkin was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

    Other Russian military officials, including the military chief of staff, Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, have also criticized the U.S. plans to deploy missile defense systems in Europe. Baluyevsky last month called the planned move a mistake.