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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he would deploy missiles targeting "decision-making centers" if the United States sends missiles to Europe, Politico reports.

"I'm saying this clearly and openly, Russia will be forced to deploy weapons that can be used [...] against the decision-making centres that are behind the missiles systems which threaten us," the Russian president said during his annual state of the nation speech in Moscow.

"Russia does not intend to be the first to deploy such missiles in Europe," the Russian president added, saying that if Washington was to "develop and deploy" weapons in Europe, it would "dramatically exacerbate the international security situation, creating serious threats to Russia," AFP reported.

Putin's warning comes after the U.S. earlier this month said it was suspending its participation in a key arms control agreement — the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) agreement — with Russia. The Trump administration had been signaling for months that it would walk away from the treaty, alleging that Russia has not met its obligations under the agreement for years.

"The current state of affairs of course raises questions," Putin said in his speech Wednesday. "Our American partners should have been honest [...] and not use far-fetched accusations against Russia to justify their unilateral withdrawal from the treaty."