BRUSSELS, April 19 (UPI) -- U.S. plans to install a missile shield in Eastern Europe have sparked tensions with Russia, with the two powers meeting Thursday to discuss the issue.
In Brussels, the United States and its NATO allies will hold for the first time talks with Russia to ease Moscow's fears over a U.S. anti-missile system in Eastern Europe.
Washington plans to station bunker-protected rockets in Poland and a radar unit in the Czech Republic by 2011-12, a move that has upset Moscow and sparked diplomatic tensions in Europe.
Washington claims the missile shield is aimed at defending the United States and its allies in Europe against nuclear attacks from rogue states like Iran. Russia, however, sees the American missiles as threats against its territory, and has accused Washington of provoking a new Cold War-like arms race.
German Defense Minister Franz-Josef Jung has in the past called on Washington to engage in a dialogue with Russia to alleviate Moscow's fears. Jung has also been in favor of including the system in a NATO framework.
