Heated debates over U.S. missile defence in Europe continue

Russia and the United States have failed to narrow their differences on the missile defence shield plans during talks this week. Meanwhile, Moscow lays great hope on the Obama administration to take a new approach to strategic defence plans.

“We have taken note of the U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's position on these issues,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier. “It inspires the hope that we will be able to deal with them more constructively in the coming period.”

However, some doubt that the U.S. will abandon their plans for radar and missiles in Eastern Europe.

“I can’t imagine that the president-elect Obama will abandon plans regarding missile defence,” said U.S. Senator Richard Lugar. “What I hope will occur is the continuation of conversations in the so-called ‘two plus two’ talks between the Russian Foreign Minister and Defence Minister and their counterparts in the United States.”

According to the senator the future dialogue should be aimed at making a decision of “how to construct these missile defense systems in ways in which we are all protected.”