Putin's new ABM offer feasible if US drops missile plans for Europe - source
RIA Novosti
Moscow, 3 July: Russian President Vladimir Putin's new proposals on missile defence can be implemented only if the USA drops its plans to create the third position area [in Eastern Europe] for its national missile defence system, a member of the Russian delegation which took part in the informal meeting between the Russian and US presidents has told journalists.
"The proposal is of historic nature, to say the least. It is about setting up a joint missile defence system. Jointly determining threats will allow them to be combatted effectively. Joint access (to information) will inevitably lead to an exchange of technologies. All these can change the whole structure of international relations for the better, and no-one will remember about the Cold War," the Russian representative said.
"These proposals can be implemented if the USA drops its plans to create the third position area for its national missile defence system. The cooperation that Russia is offering should also stop US plans to deploy strike missiles in space," the Russian representative added.
"If the Russian proposals are implemented, the deployment of missiles in Kaliningrad Region and in other Russian regions that are close to Europe will become unnecessary.
"Naturally, aiming Russian missiles at military targets in Central Europe will not make any sense then," he said.