Russia Urges Quick Missile Defense Deal With US

Published January 18, 2012 9:36AM (EST)

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's foreign minister says a deal with the United States that would assuage Moscow's concerns about its missile defense plans is still possible, but time is running out.

Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Wednesday that Moscow will take retaliatory action if moves by Washington to deploy missile shield components around Europe pose a threat to Russia.

The U.S. says its planned missile shield is aimed at deflecting potential missile threats from Iran, but Russia believes that the missile shield will eventually become powerful enough to undermine Russia's nuclear deterrent.

Moscow agreed in 2010 to consider NATO's proposal to cooperate on the U.S.-led missile shield, but the talks have run into a deadlock over how the system should be operated. Russia has insisted that it should be run jointly, which NATO has rejected.


By Salon Staff

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