US Ignores Russian Offers to Reach Agreements Addressing Missile Defense Systems

According to the first deputy chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Department, the US ignores Russia's proposals to reach agreements allaying concerns over its missile defense system deployment.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — The United States continues to ignore Russia's numerous proposals to reach agreements allaying concerns over its missile defense system deployment, first deputy chief of the General Staff's Main Operational Department, Lt. Gen. Viktor Poznikhir, said Tuesday.

"Our initiatives to reach relevant international agreements removing Russia's concerns related to the US missile defense system have not been accepted by the US," Poznikhir said at a Xiangshan Forum briefing.

Noting Moscow's numerous attempts to draw Washington's attention to the fact that its interceptors could threaten Russian and Chinese orbital group spacecraft, Poznikhir criticized the US for refusing to guarantee that its missile potential is not directed against Russia.

He further pointed to Washington blocking Moscow's and Beijing's draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Deployment of Weapons in Outer Space at a Geneva disarmament conference in 2002.