MOSCOW, May 1 (UPI) -- Russia's leader has warned the Czechs they could face "annihilation" if they host a BMD base.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he warned Czech President Vaclav Klaus in talks that the Czechs risked "annihilation" if they allowed the United States to build an advanced radar base for ballistic missile defense interceptors on their territory.
"We will continue developing relations with Europe, with all countries, including the Czech Republic," Putin said according to remarks reported by RIA Novosti. "But the level of threat and material damages, or even annihilation will increase manifold (with the deployment of a U.S. missile shield)," he said.
RIA Novosti said that after the talks, Klaus said he had sought to separate the BMD issue from other matters such as improving trade in Russian-Czech relations. But he admitted that he had failed in his second goal of trying to explain the reasons for the BMD deployment to Putin.
"As far as the second issue is concerned, I failed," Klaus said, according to the report.
The Czech leader said he had tried to reassure Putin that his tiny country did not plan to threaten Russia.
"Of course you don't, as the Czech Republic will not have any influence (on how the U.S.-built BMD base operates)," Putin replied, according to the report. RIA Novosti said the largely Russian audience "burst into laughter" at their leader's comments.
The Russian news agency said Putin promised Klaus that Moscow would not cut its rapidly growing trade links with Prague even if the proposed BMD base was built.
Russia has been increasing its leverage over Central European nations like the Czech Republic that are members of the European Union and NATO by increasing its sale of natural gas to them.
