MOSCOW, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Thursday NATO and Russia are to hold joint simulated missile defense exercises in Germany in March.
The decision to conduct the drills was made in November 2010, at the NATO-Russia Summit in Lisbon, RIA Novosti reported.
The announcement comes as missile defense talks between NATO and Russia are at a standstill.
Russia has proposed a joint missile defense system with NATO, while NATO would rather pursue two independent systems that exchange information.
Russia also wants a written, legally binding guarantee the U.S. backed European missile defense system will not be used against Russia. The American government has refused such an agreement, stating the defenses are in place to guard against threats from Iran and North Korea.
"It is a pity that the situation is not changing as our colleagues from the United States and NATO are still not ready to understand Russia's concerns," Antonov said.
