Medvedev assails US in annual address
Russian president blames America for recent war in Georgia, global financial crisis, says Moscow will deploy missiles in its Baltic Sea territory in response to US missile defense plans
Medvedev wasted no time assailing the United States Wednesday in his first state-of-the-nation address since taking office in May. He said Russia is not inherently anti-American but suggested it is up to the United States to take the initiative in improving ties.
Minutes into the speech, he said Russia's war with Georgia was the result of aggressive US policy and that American self-interest led to the current global financial turmoil.
Medvedev said the war in Georgia increased tension in a volatile region and destabilized long-standing foundations of world order.
He added that Russia would deploy missiles in its Baltic Sea territory in response to US missile defense plans.
Medvedev said the short-range Iskander missiles will be deployed to the Kaliningrad region which borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania. He has not said how many missiles will be deployed or whether they will be fitted with nuclear warheads.
Russia will also deploy equipment to conduct to electronically hamper the operation of prospective US missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic, he added.
Medvedev said that Russia will also use navy resources as part of its response to the US missile shield.
Hope for change under Obama
Addressing Barack Obama's election as the new US president, Medvedev said he hopes Obama's administration will take steps to improve badly damaged US ties with Russia. He did not congratulate the new president in the address.
Medvedev said Russia hopes that Obama's administration will "make a choice in favor of full-fledged relations with Russia."
His criticism of the United States was in line with previous addresses by his predecessor, Vladimir Putin.
Russian-American relations have been increasingly tense and were driven to a post-Cold War low by Moscow's war with US ally Georgia.
