MOSCOW. May 19 (Interfax-AVN) - Shipments of state-of-the-art S-400 'Triumph' air defense systems to Belarus on privileged terms to protect the Belarus-Russia Union's western boundaries could be among Russia's steps in case the U.S. and NATO assume a destructive position regarding a European missile defense system, a military-diplomatic source in Moscow told Interfax-AVN on Thursday.
"If the U.S. deploys its missile defense components in Poland, Romania or other NATO countries, we will have little choice. We will have to deploy S-400s on the western boundaries of the Belarus-Russia Union. I think this is one of the possible ways of an appropriate response to such actions," he said.
Russia is pursuing military-technical cooperation with Belarus with the aim of ensuring the Union's air defense, missile defense and space defense, the source said.
"Since Belarus is Russia's strategic ally, it would be inappropriate to sell it weapons at market prices within the Union's framework. Therefore, we will look for ways to provide government support that would enable us to build not only a common air defense but also a missile defense and later a space defense system," he said.