Missile shield in Europe not directed at Russia, US says

The United States said yesterday that its plans to build a missile shield in ex-communist Europe are not directed at Russia, after Moscow warned of a new Cold War over the project.

“We have been consistent and clear for many years now that our missile defence cooperation in no way is directed at Russia,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

“And in fact we want to cooperate on missile defence with Russia and we have been quite clear on that,” Mr Toner added.

In Skolkovo, Russia, President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday warned of a new Cold War era if Russia and the West failed to agree on missile defence, in the first major news conference of his presidency.

Russia is increasingly worried about US plans to build missile defence facilities in eastern Europe and is also offended that Nato appears to have shunned its proposals for a joint missile shield.

Mr Medvedev told reporters that the US decision to push ahead with construction of the missile defence system despite Russia’s objections will force Moscow “to take retaliatory measures – something that we would very much rather not do”.