Agence France-Presse, Negotiations in Paris earlier this week between the United States and Russia on a controversial planned U.S. missile shield in central Europe failed to make headway, Russian’s foreign ministry said Thursday.
“I could not say that there has been great progress,” said Deputy Minister Sergei Kislyak, who led the Russian delegation at the talks, agency Ria Novosti reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday he was optimistic that a deal could be reached with the United States to resolve the dispute.
The U.S. presented new proposals during Monday’s Paris meeting in order to counter stiff opposition by Moscow.
The two parties will meet again Oct. 3 in Moscow, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for international security and nonproliferation John Rood said in Paris on Monday.
The United States wants to set up a tracking radar base in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland as part of a shield that it maintains could help thwart potential attacks from Iran or North Korea.
Moscow says the U.S. defense plan poses a threat to its security, and has accused Washington of wanting to create a “new Berlin Wall.”
