Yuri Baluyevsky says decision will depend on whether Washington presses ahead with its proposed missile defense system in eastern Europe

Russian news agencies quote a top Russian general who says Moscow may unilaterally quit a key Soviet-era arms reduction treaty with the United States.

General Yuri Baluyevsky, who is the chief of the Russian military's general staff, says the decision to abandon the treaty will depend on whether Washington presses ahead with its proposed missile defense system in eastern Europe.

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Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev negotiated the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with former U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1987.

Moscow has voiced strong opposition to the proposed NATO system, which calls for the deployment of anti-missile rockets in Poland and missile guidance technology in the Czech republic.

Moscow argues that the U.S. plan puts NATO missiles and missile technology on Russia's doorstep.

Washington says the missile system will protect Europe from attacks by what it calls rogue states such as North Korea and Iran.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.