This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6269408.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Russia issues new missile threat | Russia issues new missile threat |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Russia has raised the idea of moving new missile forces to Kaliningrad, close to Poland and Lithuania. | Russia has raised the idea of moving new missile forces to Kaliningrad, close to Poland and Lithuania. |
| First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov linked the possible move to US plans for a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic. | First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov linked the possible move to US plans for a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic. |
| Russia has already threatened to hit back by targeting missiles at Europe. | Russia has already threatened to hit back by targeting missiles at Europe. |
| Mr Ivanov said there would be no need to move extra forces to Kaliningrad if the US agreed to use Russian facilities instead of the Polish and Czech bases. | Mr Ivanov said there would be no need to move extra forces to Kaliningrad if the US agreed to use Russian facilities instead of the Polish and Czech bases. |
| Russia says the US plans for a limited missile defence shield, including bases close to Russia's borders, represent a threat to its security. | Russia says the US plans for a limited missile defence shield, including bases close to Russia's borders, represent a threat to its security. |
| If our proposals are not accepted... an asymmetrical and effective response has been found Sergei IvanovFirst deputy prime minister It has proposed that the US should use a radar facility in Azerbaijan, and another installation currently being built in southern Russia. | If our proposals are not accepted... an asymmetrical and effective response has been found Sergei IvanovFirst deputy prime minister It has proposed that the US should use a radar facility in Azerbaijan, and another installation currently being built in southern Russia. |
| US President George W Bush has described the idea as "innovative" but indicated that the US will press ahead with the plans for a radar station in the Czech Republic, and a missile base in Poland. | US President George W Bush has described the idea as "innovative" but indicated that the US will press ahead with the plans for a radar station in the Czech Republic, and a missile base in Poland. |
| The US says its missile shield is not directed at Russia, but at what it considers "rogue states" such as Iran. | The US says its missile shield is not directed at Russia, but at what it considers "rogue states" such as Iran. |
| 'Effective response' | 'Effective response' |
| "If our proposals are accepted, the need will disappear for Russia to deploy new missile weaponry in the European part of the country, including in Kaliningrad Region," Mr Ivanov said, on a visit to Uzbekistan. | "If our proposals are accepted, the need will disappear for Russia to deploy new missile weaponry in the European part of the country, including in Kaliningrad Region," Mr Ivanov said, on a visit to Uzbekistan. |
| Click here for a map of US missile defence bases | Click here for a map of US missile defence bases |
| "After this, you will forget about the term 'Cold War'. It will simply disappear. There simply won't be cause for speaking of it," he added. | "After this, you will forget about the term 'Cold War'. It will simply disappear. There simply won't be cause for speaking of it," he added. |
| "If our proposals are not accepted - and I cannot rule that out... an asymmetrical and effective response has been found." | "If our proposals are not accepted - and I cannot rule that out... an asymmetrical and effective response has been found." |
| Mr Ivanov is a former defence minister, and his current brief includes overall control of the defence sector. He is also seen as a possible successor to President Putin. | Mr Ivanov is a former defence minister, and his current brief includes overall control of the defence sector. He is also seen as a possible successor to President Putin. |
| 'Empty threat' | 'Empty threat' |
| How defence system works Correspondents say Mr Ivanov's comments indicate that US hopes of toning down Russia's Cold War-style rhetoric by hosting a relaxed weekend meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Mr Bush in Maine have not borne fruit. | How defence system works Correspondents say Mr Ivanov's comments indicate that US hopes of toning down Russia's Cold War-style rhetoric by hosting a relaxed weekend meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Mr Bush in Maine have not borne fruit. |
| Russian defence analyst Pavel Felgenhauer described Mr Ivanov's comments as an "empty threat". | |
| Russia had no missiles with the right range to be fired from Kaliningrad and hit the proposed interceptors in Poland, he said. | Russia had no missiles with the right range to be fired from Kaliningrad and hit the proposed interceptors in Poland, he said. |
| "It's a threat aimed at the Polish people" designed to encourage them to protest against the US plans, Mr Felgenhauer said. | "It's a threat aimed at the Polish people" designed to encourage them to protest against the US plans, Mr Felgenhauer said. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |