The United States has announced plans to build a radar installation in the Czech Republic and a missile base in Poland in the next five years. The U.S. insists that the European missile shield is designed to counter possible attacks from "rogue states," including Iran and North Korea.
"We need to know more about the rationale behind the project. Therefore, consultations that the U.S. will be holding not only in Poland and the Czech Republic, but also in Ukraine, are very important to us," Viktor Yushchenko said in an interview with the Polish Dziennik daily and TVP television channel.
He said the deployment of a U.S. missile shield in Poland falls within the exclusive purview of that country, adding that Ukraine will follow a policy designed to strengthen international security.
The NATO secretary general said Monday that plans to deploy elements of a U.S. missile defense system in Eastern Europe are not aimed at Russia.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the North Atlantic alliance and the U.S. in particular have demonstrated "maximum transparency" with respect to Russia.
Moscow has strongly objected to the proposed deployment of a U.S. missile shield in Central Europe and Central Asia, as well as the further eastward expansion of NATO.
