MOSCOW — President Dmitry Medvedev warned Wednesday that Russia may target US missile defense sites in Europe and threatened to withdraw from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) for nuclear cuts.
Medvedev, in a televised address, outlined a series of possible “appropriate measures” against the US missiles and radar systems being deployed in Europe.
These steps included deploying Iskander missiles, which officials said have a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles), in the Kaliningrad region, an area of Russian territory outside its main borders that sits next to EU members Poland and Lithuania, AFP reported.
“Russia will deploy in the west and the south of the country advanced offensive weapons systems, which will target the European component of the [US] missile defense network,” he said.
Romania and Poland agreed to host part of a revamped US missile shield that Washington said is aimed solely at rogue states like Iran but which Moscow believes also would target its soil, AFP reported.
The missile defense issue has proved a kink in the so-called “reset” of in relations between the Cold War foes, and Medvedev warned that disarmament cooperation could be hit.
“If the situation does not develop well, then Russia reserves the right to halt further steps in disarmament and the corresponding weapons controls,” Medvedev said.
He added, “There could be a basis for our exit from START. This is allowed under the sense of the treaty itself,” referring to the treaty Medvedev signed with US President Barack Obama in April 2010.