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Nato leaders set for Putin talks | Nato leaders set for Putin talks |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting leaders of the Nato alliance in Romania, his first and last at such a summit as Russian head of state. | Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting leaders of the Nato alliance in Romania, his first and last at such a summit as Russian head of state. |
The talks come after Nato accepted US plans for a missile defence shield on European soil - opposed by Russia. | The talks come after Nato accepted US plans for a missile defence shield on European soil - opposed by Russia. |
But it also failed to agree a blueprint for membership for Georgia and Ukraine - which Russia also opposes. | But it also failed to agree a blueprint for membership for Georgia and Ukraine - which Russia also opposes. |
Russia said the alliance's promise of eventual membership to its neighbours was "a huge strategic mistake". | Russia said the alliance's promise of eventual membership to its neighbours was "a huge strategic mistake". |
Nato held a session with Ukraine on Friday, attended by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. | |
Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said that there was "not a sliver of a doubt" that Ukraine and Georgia would join Nato before long. | |
Eastward expansion | Eastward expansion |
Albania and Croatia have been invited to join the 26-member alliance, while Macedonia was told it must solve a dispute with Greece before joining. | |
Moscow is concerned by Nato's eastward expansion. | Moscow is concerned by Nato's eastward expansion. |
Win some, lose some for USSend us your comments | |
Russia's ambassador to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, was quoted on Friday as saying that Nato allies listened to Moscow. | Russia's ambassador to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, was quoted on Friday as saying that Nato allies listened to Moscow. |
"It is clear that Russia's views were heard, although they were not the only thing that played a role," he told the daily Kommersant. | "It is clear that Russia's views were heard, although they were not the only thing that played a role," he told the daily Kommersant. |
President Putin leaves office next month, though he is said to be expected to serve as prime minister under president-elect Dmitry Medvedev. | President Putin leaves office next month, though he is said to be expected to serve as prime minister under president-elect Dmitry Medvedev. |
The US missile defence plan accepted by Nato allies includes bases in the Czech Republic and Poland. | The US missile defence plan accepted by Nato allies includes bases in the Czech Republic and Poland. |
In a conciliatory gesture, Nato offered Moscow the chance to look at extending that defence to Russia itself. | In a conciliatory gesture, Nato offered Moscow the chance to look at extending that defence to Russia itself. |
The agreement calls for steps to be taken to deploy a parallel Nato system to defend any countries not covered by the US scheme. | The agreement calls for steps to be taken to deploy a parallel Nato system to defend any countries not covered by the US scheme. |
The decision was seen as a significant victory for US President George W Bush. | The decision was seen as a significant victory for US President George W Bush. |
The US says it is needed to counter a potential threat from rogue states like Iran, but Moscow had expressed fears it could be used against Russia. | The US says it is needed to counter a potential threat from rogue states like Iran, but Moscow had expressed fears it could be used against Russia. |
The Nato agreement came as US and Czech officials announced they had reached a deal to site a missile defence radar on Czech soil, while Poland and the US resumed talks in Warsaw on locating 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. | The Nato agreement came as US and Czech officials announced they had reached a deal to site a missile defence radar on Czech soil, while Poland and the US resumed talks in Warsaw on locating 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. |