Russia and NATO should jointly build a system in Europe against short- and medium-range missiles, said Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov.
"If we say that there is a potential threat from the proliferation of short- and medium-range missiles, let’s build a system responding to such threats," Antonov said on Echo Moskvy radio in commenting on outcomes of a recent NATO-Russia Council meeting in Brussels.
Interceptor missiles integrated in such a missile defense system should not be able to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), Antonov said. "Their velocity should be up to 3.5 kilometers per second, and it should not reach 5, 6, or 7 kilometers per second. It should not be able to overtake an ICBM if one is launched, God forbid," he said.
Moreover, the number of such interceptor missiles should be limited, Antonov said. "There should be not a thousand but 100, 200, or 300 of them, so that they cannot intercept all ICBMs," he said.
In addition, Antonov insisted that missile defense bases should be located in the southern rather than the northwestern part of Europe, since, according to the U.S.’ and NATO’s claims, the potential missile threat emanates from the south. "If the threat is from the south, why are they huddling up to Russia’s northwestern borders, where our missile bases are stationed?" he said.
