Russia Says No Kaliningrad Missiles If U.S. Cancels Missile-Shield Plan

Sergei Ivanov (file photo) (NATO)

July 4, 2007 -- Russia says it will not proceed with plans to base missiles in its Kaliningrad exclave if the United States accepts a proposal to cooperate on missile defense.

First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said today the deployment will not be necessary if Washington abandons plans for missile-defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed the United States share missile-defense structures in Azerbaijan and Russia rather than building its own in Central Europe.

(Interfax, ITAR-TASS, Reuters)