Russia Demands Equal Participation in Nato Missile Shield

Russia would like to play an equal role in the development of Nato's planned European missile shield, Russian defence minister Anatoly Anatoly Serdyukov has said.

"The most important thing for us is firstly to define the real threats to Europe, and secondly to see Russia put on an equal footing as a participant," he said.

"Only this way can an anti-missile defence system be put in place which satisfies everyone," he added.

The US had plans to deploy an anti-missile system in former Soviet satellite states in eastern Europe, but later included Russia in the planning of a broader system, according to Agence France Presse.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will be attending next month's Nato summit in Lisbon and is prepared to discuss the alliance's proposed anti-missile shield.