, Poland sought to reassure Russia on Oct. 5 a U.S. anti-missile system that could be sited on Polish soil would pose no threat to it; but Moscow warned any deployment could have implications for its defense planning.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on a visit to Poland, said he remained concerned about the proposal, part of the U.S multi-billion dollar Missile Defense Initiative (MDI), which would use rockets to shoot down ballistic missiles carrying nuclear, chemical or bacteriological warheads.
Washington is seeking to put tracking systems or interceptor missiles in underground silos in Poland or the Czech Republic, both members of the Russian-dominated Warsaw Pact military alliance until the fall of communism.
“Russia will take these circumstances (the shield location) into consideration when planning its moves regarding strategic stability and national security,” Lavrov told a news conference in Warsaw.
“It is an aspect of our strategic stability,” he said.
Speaking on his arrival back in Moscow, Lavrov said Polish leaders had assured him a final decision on siting the missiles had not been taken, Russian news agencies reported.
“The Polish leadership confirmed … that it will definitely be done transparently and taking into account Russia
