Poland will listen to Russia's arguments but will make its own decision on whether to install a US anti-missile base on its territory, Polish media reported.

"Poland has no nuclear potential, but Russia does. We will hear out their arguments, but our final decision will be a sovereign one," Polish media quoted the country's new defence minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, as saying.

He was replying to a Russian warning that the firing of a weapon from a U.S. anti-missile system in Poland could be misread by Moscow's automated defences, triggering the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in return.

"The firing of an anti-missile rocket from Poland could be seen by Russia's automated system as the launch of a ballistic missile, which could provoke a responsive strike," army Chief of Staff Yuri Baluyevsky told a news conference in Moscow yesterday.

Sikorski, who is due to meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak shortly, said: "We have not yet reached a conclusion as to whether the anti-missile shield is necessary."

Russia is opposed to the U.S. plan to site up to 10 ground-based interceptor missiles in northern Poland and a radar facility in the Czech Republic to protect against attacks from what it calls "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the plan could unleash a new arms race and might force Moscow to take retaliatory measures.

Poland has asked the United States for Patriot missiles or similar air protection to defend its cities if it is to host the anti-missile shield on its territory.