MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The plans to deploy US Patriot systems in Poland are a part of the US strategic intention to surround Russia with missile defense systems "under the pretext of mythical threats to security", Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov told Sputnik.
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According to the senior diplomat, in reality the deployment of anti-missile defense network posed a threat to stability and undermined international trust "which has been lacking over the past years."
"We have repeatedly, but, unfortunately, futilely pointed out this fact to our Western interlocutors," Titov said.
An agreement on the deliveries of Patriot missile defense systems to Poland was signed by the Polish National Defense Ministry and the US State Department of Defense during US President Donald Trump's visit to Warsaw in early July, with the military hardware set to be handed over to Poland by 2022.
A group of Polish parliamentarians from the committee of national defence, including its chair, visit #NATO HQ. Deputy Secretary General Rose @Gottemoeller thanks #Poland for a strong contribution to the Alliance, its enhanced forward presence and 2% of GDP in defence spending. pic.twitter.com/rndNCC6DnZ
— PLinNATO (@PLinNATO) November 15, 2017
Moscow has repeatedly said that the deployment of air defense systems near Russia's borders undoubtedly poses a threat to the country, with Russian President Vladimir Putin reminding that the US and European officials previously linked the missile shield deployment to Iran’s nuclear program, which was no longer present due to the deal reached in 2015 with Tehran.
