Russia to take adequate steps to US missile defence in Europe

Moscow, May 7 (UNI) Russian Strategic Missile Forces' top commander Col Gen Nikolai Solovtsov today said if the US missile defence system will be deployed in Europe, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces will take adequate responding measures.

''If the United States finally makes the decision, despite serious resistance from the European population to the deployment of missile defence, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces would take adequate measures to deal with the threats to Russia that might ensue,'' Mr Solovtsov told reporters.

He also said Topol-M missile systems will be equipped with splitting warheads and anti-missile defence gadgets within the next two-three years.

''The goal of equipping Topol-M with splitting warheads will be achieved in the near future,'' Mr Solvotsov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently repeatedly warned that elements of the US missile defence in Europe will have coverage of Russian territory up to the Ural Mountains, increasing the risk of mutual damage and even destruction and Russia will take reciprocal steps to counter it.

Moscow has already imposed moratorium on the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty.

UNI