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Medvedev: We will put missiles near Polish border
Ed Harris06.11.08
RUSSIA is to deploy nuclear-capable missiles to territory near the Polish border in a move which is certain to inflame tensions with the West.
President Dmitry Medvedev said the decision to station the short-range Iskander missiles close to the border of a Nato member was in response to US missile defence plans.
He did not say how many missiles would be deployed, nor whether they would be fitted with nuclear warheads.
In a state of the nation speech, Medvedev also blamed the US for the war in Georgia and the global financial crisis. He said he hoped Barack Obama would act to improve relations with Russia - although he did not offer congratulations to the president-elect.
The missiles will be deployed to the Russian Baltic Sea territory of Kaliningrad, said Mr Medvedev. Equipment to electronically hamper the operation of prospective US missile defence facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic would be used, he confirmed.
"Earlier we had planned to decommission three missile regiments of a missile division deployed in Kozelsk and to disband this division by 2010. I have decided to refrain from these plans and we will not reform anything," Mr Medvedev said.
He also claimed Russia's war with Georgia in August and the global financial turmoil were consequences of aggressive US policies.
"Mechanisms must be created to block mistaken, egoistical and sometimes simply dangerous decisions of certain members of the international community," he said in the 85-minute speech.
Reader views (5)
Russians enjoy chess. Medvyedev moves missiles to Baltic. Nice Mr Obama gets to talk. Whose move? Whatever next? New 'world' leaders tend to be younger... Enjoy, and it might just play nice!
- Steve, SW18
Who are we in the West to tell them what to do?
- P I Staker, London
How can anyone be surprised by the Russians, history tells you they are manic aggressors and always will be.
When the West eventually finds alternative energy sources, they will Im sure be happy to feed it to its peoples, and lets see how big the mighty Russia is then !
- Stefan, London
The sooner Obama and Putin start talking the better. With Bush being an intellectually challenged warmonger, and Blair/Brown his lapdog there was no way forward. Now, hopefully, there is?
- Conspiracy Theorist, London
Fair enough. Looks like Poland will become 'no man's land', and not for the first time.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex
