Russian missile plan depends on US moves

Moscow will go ahead with its plan to station missiles near Poland only if the United States deploys missile defences in Europe, a senior Russian diplomat said today.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told the Interfax news agency that if Washington halts its plans to deploy 10 missile interceptors and radar in the Czech Republic there will be no need for Russia to place short-range Iskander missiles in its western Kaliningrad region.