Wire: Russia Now Questioning New US Missile Plan

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday the new missile plan from President Barack Obama's administration raises questions and Moscow is waiting for Washington to explain its intentions.

"The statements that are constantly being voiced raise more questions than answers," Lavrov told reporters during a visit to the Moldovan capital for a summit of ex-Soviet countries, a report from the French AFP news agency said.

"We would like to receive full clarification," Lavrov added, referring to the plan presented by the Obama administration last month to replace an older plan backed by George W. Bush that would have placed missile defence facilities in eastern Europe.

Moscow and Washington are now holding talks so Russia can "understand the configuration" of the new missile defence system, Lavrov said, but he added that reports of some US proposals were raising eyebrows in Moscow.

He said a recent US report that the United States might include Ukraine in its missile defence plans was "rather unexpected."

Defense News reported Thursday that Washington may consider Ukraine as part of its new anti-missile program, and had added the ex-Soviet country "to the list of possible early warning sites."

(Report from newswire sources.)