Posted by Russian Report Says Moscow Has Halted Plans to Deploy Missiles Near the Polish Border’.
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has halted plans to deploy missiles near the Polish border, a Russian news agency quoted the military as saying on Wednesday, in what could be a sign Moscow is seeking better ties with the new U.S. president.
But there was no official confirmation and a Kremlin official said its position had always been that it would only deploy the missiles if Washington defied Moscow by implementing its plan for a missile shield in eastern Europe.
Moscow says the U.S. interceptor system, proposed by former President George W. Bush, threatens its security. President Barack Obama has not reversed Bush’s decision but has said he will consider it on its merits.
The report that the Russian deployment has been suspended follows a phone conversation this week between Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Analysts said such a move could open the way for dialogue on other disputes between their countries.
Photo: A launcher of short-range Iskander missile rides in a column of Russian military vehicles, during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in downtown Moscow, in this Tuesday, April 29, 2008 file photo.Russai has withdrawn the plan to deploy the short-range Iskander missiles to Russia’s Kaliningrad region, in response to U.S. cahnge in tone under Barack Obama.
By Christian Lowe
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