Divisions stalk China-Russia unity: Analysts

BEIJING: China and Russia are presenting a united front against the West to boost their firepower on issues from Syria to Iran, but analysts say their alliance belies deep divisions.

Russia supports ‘peaceful’ nuclear drive in Iran

BEIJING: Russia supports Tehran’s atomic programme as long as it is “peaceful”, President Vladimir Putin told Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Thursday ahead of global talks on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

NATO May Decide on Stepping Up Missile Defense in Chicago – Defense Ministry

 

NATO is likely to make new decisions on the further deployment of the European missile defense shield, a stumbling point in Russian-U.S. relations, during the upcoming alliance’s summit in Chicago, Russian Deputy Defense minister Anatoly Antonov said on Tuesday.

Russia’s Medvedev warns West over missile shield

 

President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday time was running out for the West to come up with new proposals to secure Russia’s agreement to a missile defense shield in Europe.

Russia Expecting Attack on Iran by Summer

 

WASHINGTON – The Russian military anticipates that an attack will occur on Iran by the summer and has developed an action plan to move Russian troops through neighboring Georgia to stage in Armenia, which borders on the Islamic republic, informed Russian sources say in a report in Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.

Russia Profile Weekly Experts Panel: Can Putin and Obama Make a Deal on Missile Defense?

Speaking at the Euro-Atlantic Security Conference in Moscow last Friday, outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia and NATO could still reach an agreement on missile defense, but time is running out and opportunities for compromise are becoming fewer as the U.S. missile defense plans near implementation. Can Putin and Obama make a deal on missile defense? Would Obama go for a written statement of guarantees sought by Russia? Would Putin accept this as a compromise?

U.S. seeks to ease Russia missile worries

MOSCOW, April 4 (UPI) – A missile defense shield planned for Europe by the United States could be a point of cooperation, not confrontation, with Moscow, an envoy said.

US Envoy in Russia Suggests E-Mail, Phone Being Monitored

The U.S. ambassador to Russia has suggested that his e-mail and phone are being monitored, as journalists keep showing up at the locations where he is holding meetings.

Missile Gaffe Leaves Europe Unfazed

President Barack Obama roiled the U.S. election campaign when he was caught on a live microphone telling Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he would “have more flexibility” after his next election to deal with Moscow’s concerns over a planned European missile shield. But so far the comments have caused few ripples in Europe.

Putin’s Presidential Return: Implications for Russian Foreign Policy and Missile Defense

In a policy paper leading up to the recent Russian presidential elections, Vladimir Putin reiterated his criticism of the NATO ballistic missile defense (BMD) system, arguing that it undermines Russia’s strategic nuclear forces and that he is ‘loath to dismiss the possibility of reaching a compromise on missile defense.’