Medvedev says serious crisis over missile shield possible

PanARMENIAN.Net - Despite the general progress in Russian-U.S. relations, Russia and the West could face a serious crisis if the sides fail to resolve the standoff over the deployment of a U.S. missile shield in Europe, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said, according to RIA Novosti.

In an interview with the Cuban media, published on Saturday, Feb 23, Medvedev said he is satisfied in general with the development of Russian-U.S. relations during the past few years as Moscow and Washington signed a number of important agreements, including the new START arms reduction deal, and “American colleagues” actively backed Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

“Frankly, I feel rather comfortable in a dialogue with the U.S. administration and I am sure that my colleague Vladimir Putin feels the same way, but we [Russia and the United States] still have disagreements on several vital issues, including missile defense,” Medvedev said.

The Prime Minister reiterated that Washington and its NATO allies refuse to accept Moscow’s arguments that the European missile shield in its proposed shape essentially targets Russia and its nuclear potential.

“We have voiced our concerns but the situation has not changed, and the time to find a solution is running out with each passing month,” Medvedev stressed, adding that the crisis could be looming by the end of this decade.

“If we fail to reach an agreement, the consequences for international relations could be very unpleasant because we will be forced to take retaliatory actions,” he said. “Any Russian government, any Russian leader will have to take these retaliatory measures simply because our strategic interests demand so.”