Europe News

Russia renews criticism of US missile plans for Poland

Apr 22, 2010, 17:52 GMT

Moscow - A spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry on Thursday criticized US plans to station missiles near Poland's border with Russia, the Interfax news agency reported.

Such one-sided action by the US could generate 'nothing but concern,' Andrei Nesterenko said.

'We are not clear on what the missile defence system will achieve,' he added.

Such 'surprises' were better avoided, Nesterenko said.

He noted that Russia is willing to conduct a joint analysis with the US on whether an attack is imminent and how to face it.

The Patriot missile battery is to be deployed on May 24 in Morag, a town just 100 kilometres from the Russian border.

US President Barack Obama has scrapped plans to assemble a controversial missile defence system in Eastern Europe, but Warsaw has insisted on the promised deployment of the Patriot missiles.