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Russia's Medvedev Warns U.S. On Missiles

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The Washington Post

Published: November 6, 2008

MOSCOW - Sharply criticizing the United States while offering to rebuild relations with its new leader, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned in a nationally televised state of the union address Wednesday he would deploy short-range missiles near Poland if the Obama administration pressed ahead with plans to build a missile defense shield in Europe.

Kremlin officials have threatened to target Poland by moving tactical missiles into the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, most recently after Poland agreed in August to host a U.S. interceptor base. But Medvedev's threat "to neutralize, when necessary" the U.S. installation was the most explicit endorsement of the plan by a top Russian leader.

The warning appeared intended to signal the Kremlin's priorities to Obama, who has said he supports missile defenses against Iran and North Korea, but criticized the Bush administration for failing to consult allies about the shield, exaggerating its capabilities and rushing deployment for political purposes.

Medvedev's wide-ranging speech held out little hope for democratic reforms and proposed amending Russia's constitution to lengthen presidential terms to six years, a move condemned by critics as part of a plan to allow his predecessor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, to return to office.

He said Russia is ready to work with the United States if it abandoned its "mistaken, egotistical and sometimes simply dangerous" policies.

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