November 24, 2011 - 18:46 AMT
Dmitry Medvedev: European missile shield not linked to EU visa facilitation

Russia’s response to European missile shied deployment mustn’t be viewed in the context of possible slackening of Russia-EU dialogue on visa regime facilitation, Russian President stated.

“Russia-EU ties are too multi-aspect to be restricted to missile shield issue, especially since the idea of a missile shied is mostly imposed by the U.S.,” Dmitry Medvedev said.

Russia may deploy "advanced offensive weapon systems" on its borders with Europe in response to a planned U.S.-backed European missile shield, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday Nov 23.

Medvedev's comment came as he outlined a series of possible “appropriate measures” if missile defense talks between Moscow and Washington result in failure. Moscow is seeking written, legal guarantees that the shield will not be directed against it, but Washington has refused to put its verbal assurances in writing.