Russia insists on NATO guarantees missile defense not targeted against its nuclear forces - Lavrov
MOSCOW. Oct 10 (Interfax) - Russia insists on receiving guarantees from NATO that its missile defense system will not be targeted against its nuclear forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"Reliable guarantees based on clear and impartial military-technical and geographic criteria that this system will not be targeted against Russian nuclear deterrence forces are fundamentally important for us," Lavrov said at the Federation Council on Wednesday.
"Such guarantees should make sure that this system is fully consistent with the purpose declared by its initiator, namely, defense against missile threats emanating from the outside of the Euro-Atlantic region, that is, not from Russia," he said.
Lavrov acknowledged that the parties have so far been unable to find a solution to this problem, but Russia is willing to continue dialogue on the issue.