© AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
"The latest developments suggest that the situation is not changing for the better. Unfortunately, it is being aggravated, considering the deployment of a radar station in Romania as an element of the US missile defense shield system," Putin said.
US rejected Russia's proposals on missile defense cooperation
According to the president, Russia's proposals on missile defense cooperation with the United States have been actually rejected.
"We have spoken a lot about our concerns, proposed cooperation and joint work with American partners. All this was rejected, as a matter of fact," Putin said.
Russia to take steps to reduce national security threats
Putin stressed that Russia has to think of reducing national security threats posed by deployment of the NATO missile defense system in Europe.
'Now that the elements of the [NATO] missile defense system have been deployed [in Europe], we will have to think of how to reduce the threats arising for Russia's national security," the head of state noted.
Absence of Iranian nuclear threat
The Russian president has also pointed out that the creation of the NATO missile defense system continues despite the absence of Iran's nuclear threat.
"Let's remember that just a few years ago all our opponents were saying in one voice that our partners in the West, in Europe and in the United States needed the missile defense system to avert the missile and nuclear threats from Iran. Where are these nuclear threats from Iran now? They are absent. But the creation of the missile defense system continues," the president said.
"If by using their capabilities in world media they are still able to mislead someone into believing that it does not threaten Russia or that it is only a system of defense, no one present at this table, at this session will be misled by them. Nothing like this, this is not a defensive system, this is a part of US strategic nuclear potential taken to the periphery," Putin said.
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