MOSCOW, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Senior defense officials from Russia and the United States will discuss a proposal, prepared by Russia, aiming to establish a joint air defense system in Europe this fall, Russian First Vice Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said Sunday.

    Russia made the proposal after Washington initiated plans earlier this year to build a U.S. anti-missile system in central Europe, featuring interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic. Kremlin had voiced fierce opposition to the U.S. plans.

    The proposals pose "an evident threat" to Russia and "draw a new dividing line -- like a new Berlin Wall," Ivanov said in an interview on Rossiya TV.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed in June a joint radar warning system in Azerbaijan as a substitute to Washington's anti-missile system.

    Russia will take "definite counter measures" against the U.S. plans, said Ivanov, a potential Putin successor.