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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Russia in Ukraine missile threat | Russia in Ukraine missile threat |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Russia has said it may target its missiles at Ukraine if its neighbour joins Nato and accepts the deployment of the US missile defence shield. | Russia has said it may target its missiles at Ukraine if its neighbour joins Nato and accepts the deployment of the US missile defence shield. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin made the comments in Moscow alongside Ukraine's President, Viktor Yushchenko. | |
| Mr Putin has condemned US plans to include Poland and the Czech Republic in its missile defence shield. | Mr Putin has condemned US plans to include Poland and the Czech Republic in its missile defence shield. |
| The leaders had been meeting in urgent talks over a gas dispute and announced a deal to avoid disrupting supplies. | |
| 'Scary' | 'Scary' |
| In a televised speech last week, Mr Putin warned that a "new phase in the arms race is unfolding in the world". | |
| Mr Putin said other countries were spending far more than Russia on new weapons, but that it would respond to the challenges of an arms race by developing hi-tech weaponry. | |
| The goal [of the US missile shield] is to neutralise our nuclear capabilities Russian President Vladimir Putin | |
| Speaking at a news conference at the Kremlin on Tuesday, Mr Putin said he had advised Ukraine not to join Nato, but admitted he would be unable to interfere in any such move. | |
| "Joining such a bloc means a country restricting its own sovereignty," he warned. | "Joining such a bloc means a country restricting its own sovereignty," he warned. |
| When asked about the consequences of Ukraine gaining Nato membership, Mr Putin said Russia was concerned that its neighbour would agree to host parts of the US missile defence shield on its territory. | When asked about the consequences of Ukraine gaining Nato membership, Mr Putin said Russia was concerned that its neighbour would agree to host parts of the US missile defence shield on its territory. |
| "I am not only terrified to utter this, it is scary even to think that Russia, in response to a possible deployment of... [parts of the] missile shield in Ukraine... would have to target its offensive rocket systems at Ukraine," he said. | "I am not only terrified to utter this, it is scary even to think that Russia, in response to a possible deployment of... [parts of the] missile shield in Ukraine... would have to target its offensive rocket systems at Ukraine," he said. |
| "The goal [of the missile shield] is to neutralise our nuclear capabilities... This would prompt Russia to take retaliatory action," he added. | "The goal [of the missile shield] is to neutralise our nuclear capabilities... This would prompt Russia to take retaliatory action," he added. |
| Earlier, Russia's foreign minister said Mr Putin had accepted an invitation to attend the forthcoming Nato summit in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, in April. | |
| Mr Putin will no longer be Russian president in April. Elections for his successor will be held next month. | Mr Putin will no longer be Russian president in April. Elections for his successor will be held next month. |
| "This yet again testifies to the fact that Russia is open to dialogue on any issues," Sergei Lavrov told reporters while attending a disarmament conference in Geneva. |