BRUSSELS. April 19 (Interfax) - The demand of guarantees that a U.S.-NATO air defense shield will not be directed against Russia's strategic forces remains a key issue in the dialogue with NATO, Russian envoy to the alliance Alexander Grushko told Interfax.
"The adaptive approach does not rule out that its own assessment of missile risks could prompt the U.S. to return to plans to deploy "advanced" air defense means in Europe that are capable of intercepting ICBMs [intercontinental ballistic missiles] as technologies take shape further and the budget situation improves," Grushko said ahead of a ministerial session of the Russia-NATO Council in Brussels on April 23.
"Apart from that, our military specialists have concluded that existing American sea-based missile defense means are able to create risks for our nuclear deterrence forces in certain districts," the high-ranking diplomat said.
"That is why the issue of guarantees that a U.S.-NATO air defense shield will not be directed against Russia remains a key topic of our dialogue with NATO," he said.