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| Putin warns US on defence plans | Putin warns US on defence plans |
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| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 the US plans as a threat to its own security. | Moscow sees the US plans as a threat to its own security. |
| Mr Putin also threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile treaty which he said was outdated. | Mr Putin also threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile treaty which he said was outdated. |
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| Map of US missile defence systems | |
| Analysts say President Putin's threat to withdraw from the treaty is yet another diplomatic move to pressurise the Americans at the start of a difficult day of negotiations. | Analysts say President Putin's threat to withdraw from the treaty is yet another diplomatic move to pressurise the Americans at the start of a difficult day of negotiations. |
| "Putin is looking for a card to threaten the USA," Russian military analyst Alexander Goltz told the BBC. | |
| The Russian leader appeared to mock the US plan for a European missile defence system. | 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, but before we get there the possibility of reaching an agreement may be lost because you will have implemented your own plans Vladimir Putin US tries to bridge gap | |
| "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. | "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. |
| "But before we get there, the possibility of reaching an agreement may be lost because you will have implemented your own plans," he said. | "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. | 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. | 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. |
| The reason, he said, is that other countries were developing these kinds of weapons systems - including those close to Russia's borders. | The reason, he said, is that other countries were developing these kinds of weapons systems - including those close to Russia's borders. |
| How US missile shield works | How US missile shield works |
| It is not clear which countries he was referring to, but one analyst told the BBC it could mean Iran and North Korea. | It is not clear which countries he was referring to, but one analyst told the BBC it could mean Iran and North Korea. |
| The INF treaty, which limits US and Russian short and medium range missiles, was signed 20 years ago and led to the elimination of almost 3,000 Russian and American missiles. Russia has also threatened to leave the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe if it is not ratified by all Nato nations. | The INF treaty, which limits US and Russian short and medium range missiles, was signed 20 years ago and led to the elimination of almost 3,000 Russian and American missiles. Russia has also threatened to leave the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe if it is not ratified by all Nato nations. |
| 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 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. | The US says it has to counteract "rogue states" like Iran and North Korea. |
| US offer | 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. | 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. |
| But Russian defence analyst Alexander Goltz said the US and Russian positions were so far apart that he did not expect any real progress in the talks. | |
| He added, however, that this military agenda suited Mr Putin as it distracts his Western critics from the subjects of democracy and human rights. | |
| Mr Putin does not want any Western interference into his plans for continued political involvement when he has to stand down as president next March, Mr Goltz said. | |
| Friday's talks are also expected to cover: | Friday's talks are also expected to cover: |
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| 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. |
| US MISSILE DEFENCE: LONG RANGE THREAT PROTECTION US wants to build defence system against possible missile attacksPart of defences would be in Eastern Europe - which Russia opposesRussia suggests US should use its Gabala, Azerbaijan base instead class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6720153.stm">Q&A: US missile defences | |
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