Moscow, July 05: The Kremlin says a new agreement with the US over reducing nuclear warheads requires Washington to reconsider its plans for a missile defense system in Europe.
President Dmitry Medvedev clarified Russia’s stance ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit on Monday.
The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) before it expires in December.
Moscow that deems Washington’s plans for deploying the missile system a threat to its national security has related a new START deal to the missile plans saying Washington must ‘compromise’ over the issue.
“We consider these issues are interconnected,” Medvedev said in an interview with Italian media on Sunday.
The Obama administration was ready to discuss the case but that a compromise was needed to move forward on finding a replacement for the START treaty, Medvedev said.
The United States says it has not made a final decision on missile defense yet.
“It is sufficient to show restraint and show ability to compromise. And then we can agree on the basis of a new deal on START and at the same time can agree on the question of how we move forward on anti-missile defense,” said Medvedev.
On his first visit to Russia as president, Obama is due to hold talks with President Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
—–Agencies