(Edits, adds analyst)
By Conor Humphries
MOSCOW, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Russia has halted a plan to
retaliate against a proposed U.S. missile defence shield by
stationing its own missiles near Europe's borders, a Russian
news agency quoted the military as saying on Wednesday.
The suspension of plans to deploy tactical missiles in the
Western outpost of Kaliningrad, if confirmed, would show Russia
is extending an olive branch to President Barack Obama after
rocky relations under his predecessor.
"If true, this would of course be a very positive step," a
spokeswoman quoted the U.S. envoy to NATO, Kurt Volker, as
saying in reference to the Russian report.
Obama spoke to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev by
telephone on Monday, their first contact since the U.S.
inauguration, and the two men agreed to stop the "drift" in
their countries' relations, the White House said on Tuesday.
Medvedev had said in November he was ordering the deployment
of Iskander missile systems to Kaliningrad, which borders
European Union members Poland and Lithuania, in response to
Washington's plan for a missile shield in Europe.
"The implementation of these plans has been halted in
connection with the fact that the new U.S. administration is not
rushing through plans to deploy" elements of its missile defence
shield in eastern Europe, Interfax quoted an unnamed official in
the Russian military's general staff as saying.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Russian
military that the Iskander deployment was being suspended.
The issue is likely to be on the agenda if, as expected,
Medvedev and Obama meet on April 2 on the sidelines of a Group
of 20 summit in London.
"It (the suspension of missile deployment) is a signal to
Obama of Moscow's goodwill," Yevgeny Volk, an analyst in Moscow
with the Heritage Foundation think tank, told Reuters.
"In response they want a decision not to deploy the missile
defence shield in eastern Europe."
Some observers believe the Kremlin may be softening its
assertive foreign policy style because the economic slowdown --
which has seen the rouble lose about a quarter of its value
since July -- has dented its confidence.
U.S. POLICY SHIFT?
The administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush
angered the Kremlin with its push to deploy interceptor missiles
in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic.
It said the system was needed to protect from potential
missile strikes by what it called "rogue states" -- specifically
Iran and North Korea.
The White House has not announced any change of policy on
the missile shield, but a nominee for a top Pentagon post in the
Obama administration said this month the plan would be reviewed
as part of a regular broad look at policy.
Russia has argued that the proposed system would threaten
its own national security and was further evidence -- along with
the eastward expansion of the NATO alliance -- of Western
military influence encroaching near its borders.
The threat of deploying the Iskander missiles was largely
symbolic because, military analysts said, Russia does not have
enough operational missile systems to station in Kaliningrad.
The row over the shield has helped drive diplomatic ties
between Moscow and Washington to their lowest level since the
end of the Cold War.
But Russian officials have said they are encouraged by early
signals from the Obama administration and hopeful of a fresh
start in their relations.
Since taking office, Obama has sent strong signals that he
will try to repair foreign ties that were damaged under the Bush
presidency.
In an acknowledgement of Washington's rocky relations with
the Muslim world, Obama gave his first formal television
interview as president to the Dubai-based Al Arabiya station and
said the United States was willing to talk to Iran.
(Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Brussels; Writing
by Christian Lowe; Editing by Peter Millership)
(conor.humphries@thomsonreuters.com; +7495-7751242)
