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Putin Threatens to Pull Out of Nuke Treaty

Confronts Rice, Gates over missile shield in Eastern Europe

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 12, 2007 8:11 AM CDT

(Newser) – Vladimir Putin kicked off a meeting with Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates today in Moscow by threatening to withdraw from a treaty governing intermediate-range nuclear missiles unless it was expanded to include other countries. The pugnacious Russian president also warned his American visitors not to push ahead with the missile shield the administration is planning to install in Eastern Europe.

"In the short-term this is a bargaining chip on the broader agenda of arms control," says a Moscow analyst. "In the medium term Russia would like to have more adequate tools in its tool box for the deterrence of its neighbors." When asked if he expected a breakthrough in the talks, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov joked, "Breaks definitely. Through or down I do not know."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates as U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, center, looks on, at the presidential residence of Novo-Ogaryovo... (Associated Press)

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks during talks in Moscow, Friday, Oct. 12, 2007. In a tense start to talks on a range of thorny issues, President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned U.S. officials... (Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, looks on during a meeting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, both unseen, at presidential residence of Novo-Ogaryovo outside... (Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at presidential residence of Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow on Friday, Oct. 12, 2007. A chief concern for... (Associated Press)

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, right, smile as Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with an unidentified member of US delegation, unseen,... (Associated Press)

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Putin Threatens to Pull Out of Nuke Treaty

Confronts Rice, Gates over missile shield in Eastern Europe

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Putin Threatens to Pull Out of Nuke Treaty

Confronts Rice, Gates over missile shield in Eastern Europe

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Russia • missile shield • Robert Gates • Condoleezza Rice • Vladimir Putin • nuclear weapons • Sergei Lavrov

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

No Progress on Missile Deal After Rice's Russia Visit

US, Russia no closer on defense system in Eastern Europe, but more polite about it

US and Russia Lock Horns over Kosovo, Missile Shield

Cold War fault lines rumble at prelim G-8 summit

Russia Silent on Iran Concessions

Critics charge that Obama may have scrapped missile shield for nothing

Russia Scraps Plan for Nukes Near Europe

Moscow doesn't need missiles if US ditches own program in region

Putin Praises US for Ditching Missile Shield

But Moscow may not support nuclear sanctions against Iran

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Newser By Users

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What is Newser?