Moscow has strongly opposed the possible deployment by the U.S. of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and an accompanying radar in the Czech Republic as a threat to its national security. Washington says the defenses are needed to deter a possible strike from Iran, or other "rogue" states.
"We are disappointed with Russia's position on the [missile] shield, which is a defense system that would not threaten Russia," Radoslaw Sikorski said, speaking on the TOK FM radio station.
He also said he would like NATO to express its official support for the U.S. missile shield and that he expected the U.S. to help deal with any retaliatory steps taken by Moscow.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said last week after the U.S. and the Czech Republic signed a treaty on the missile shield, that if the treaty becomes legally binding, and U.S. strategic missile defense elements are deployed near Russia's borders, Moscow would be forced to respond with a "military-technical approach" rather than a diplomatic one. The treaty has yet to be ratified by the Czech parliament and signed by the Czech president.
Polish-American talks over the shield have stalled as Warsaw is not satisfied with the terms offered by Washington. Poland has been pushing the U.S. to spend billions of dollars upgrading Poland's air defenses in exchange for allowing the deployment of the interceptor missiles, citing Russia's threats to target U.S. missile shield facilities in Europe.
