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US, Russia in key missile talks Putin warns US on defence plans
(about 3 hours later)
The US and Russia are set for high-level talks in Moscow that will focus on Washington's plans to place a missile defence system in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signalled he will not support a US plan for a missile defence system in Europe, at the start of key US-Russia talks.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates will meet their opposite numbers to try to tackle the Kremlin's opposition. He urged Washington "not to force" a planned deployment of a radar in the Czech Republic and interceptors in Poland on Russia during the talks.
Moscow sees US plans to base a radar in the Czech Republic and interceptors in Poland as a threat to its own security. Moscow sees the US plans as a threat to its own security.
The US says it has to counteract "rogue states" like Iran and North Korea. Mr Putin also threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile treaty which he said was outdated.
The Russian leader appeared to mock the US plan for a European missile defence system.
" One day you and I may decide that missile defence systems can be deployed on the Moon," Mr Putin said as he began talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates. US tries to bridge gap
"But before we get there, the possibility of reaching an agreement may be lost because you will have implemented your own plans," he said.
The Kremlin has asked the US why it cannot instead use Russian-operated early warning radar in Azerbaijan.The Kremlin has asked the US why it cannot instead use Russian-operated early warning radar in Azerbaijan.
US officials said the Azerbaijan radar was not an alternative because it only offered a broad view of the horizon, and not the narrow focus of the proposed Czech Republic radar.
President Putin also said at the start of the talks that it would be difficult to remain part of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty unless it was expanded to include more countries than just the US and Russia.
HAVE YOUR SAY Talking is always better than not talking. But I'm sure that neither country can trust the other CDT, Idaho Send us your comments The reason, he said, is that other countries were developing these kinds of weapons systems - including those close to Russia's borders.
It is not clear which countries he was referring to, but one analyst told the BBC it could mean Iran and North Korea.
The Americans arrived at Friday's high-level meeting saying they would not back down from their plan to install a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The US says it has to counteract "rogue states" like Iran and North Korea.
US offer
Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, said Washington hoped to win Russia's support for the Czech radar by suggesting that Moscow enters into its aegis.
Friday's talks are also expected to cover Russia's threat to leave the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and aim nuclear missiles at Europe if the US forges ahead.Friday's talks are also expected to cover Russia's threat to leave the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and aim nuclear missiles at Europe if the US forges ahead.
'Serious problems'
Analysts say discussions on what might succeed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) on nuclear weapons, which expires in 2009, are also likely.Analysts say discussions on what might succeed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) on nuclear weapons, which expires in 2009, are also likely.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7037204.stm">US tries to bridge gap And the political future of Kosovo will be on the agenda. And the political future of Kosovo will be on the agenda.
The so-called two-plus-two meeting will bring Ms Rice and Mr Gates face-to-face with their Russian counterparts, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.The so-called two-plus-two meeting will bring Ms Rice and Mr Gates face-to-face with their Russian counterparts, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
"We have been very clear that we need the Czech and Polish sites," Ms Rice told journalists on her plane as it flew to Moscow on Thursday night.
The secretary of state, who trained as a Soviet specialist during the Cold War, is also expected to hold a private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.The secretary of state, who trained as a Soviet specialist during the Cold War, is also expected to hold a private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
BBC Moscow correspondent Richard Galpin says Ms Rice has made it clear the US will not back down on the missile issue, but that Washington is still interested in Moscow's offer to use Russian radar facilitities. And the US diplomatic team is expected to seek Russian backing for tougher sanctions against Iran.
The US diplomatic team is also expected to seek Russian backing for tougher sanctions against Iran.
Washington says Iran wants to build nuclear weapons but Tehran says it simply wants to produce nuclear energy.Washington says Iran wants to build nuclear weapons but Tehran says it simply wants to produce nuclear energy.
Mr Putin, who is due to visit Iran next week, says there is no evidence that Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.Mr Putin, who is due to visit Iran next week, says there is no evidence that Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.