Medvedev Shoots Down Missile Deal

Dmitry Medvedev won’t engage in “some sort of trade or exchange” with Barack Obama in order to halt the contentious anti-ballistic missile system the US wants to put in Eastern Europe, the Financial Times reports. Medvedev today confirmed that Obama had sent him a secret letter with some “suggestions,” but said horse-trading was “not productive.” But he added that the note was “evidence of one thing at least: that they are willing to discuss the problem.”

Earlier today the New York Times reported that Obama had offered to scrap plans for the missile defense system if Russia agreed to help stop Iran’s long-range missile program. The US insists the system is designed to protect Europe from Iran, but Moscow suspects it’ll be pointed at Russia, too. Medvedev says Russia’s “in absolute contact with our American colleagues” on the Iran issue, but would only accept a “global” shield. (More Russia stories.)