NEW YORK, September 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told his U.S. counterpart on Thursday that Russia was ready to continue missile defense cooperation with the U.S. and Europe.

"We are ready to continue working in this direction with our U.S. and European colleagues," Medvedev said after talks with U.S. President Barack Obama.

The Russian leader praised the recent U.S. decisions on missile defense as "sensible."

Later, speaking at the 64th session of the UN General Assembly the Russian leader said the shift in the U.S. missile plans was "a constructive step in the right direction, which deserved the positive response it had received from the international community."

The Bush administration sought to deploy an omni-directional radar in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland as defense against potential strikes from Iran. Russia has consistently opposed the plans as a threat to its security and the strategic balance of forces in Europe.

According to the Obama administration's new plan, land-based missile-defense shields will not be implemented before 2015. Sea-based defense shields will be operating in the Mediterranean Sea up to 2015.