Quotations on National Missile Defense (NMD)

Russian Federation

Reactions to the US decision to unilaterally withdraw from the ABM Treaty:

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
"We did believe that this treaty was one of the fundamental pillars of the overall security and stability system in the world as established in recent decades. More than 30 other international agreements were based on that foundation - agreements in areas of arms control and arms reduction. That is why we insisted it should be maintained.

In principle, we were prepared for certain modifications of the treaty. We asked to be given specific parameters that stood in the way of US desires to develop defensive systems and implement programs. We were fully prepared to discuss those parameters. But nothing specific was given to us, no specific parameters to be negotiated. We heard only insistent requests for bilateral withdrawal from the treaty. To this day I fail to understand this insistence, given our position, which was fairly flexible.

I am very much concerned in the face of the most negative development or implication of this step, that is, the extension of the arms race to outer space. If the leading nuclear powers embark on this road, we will not be in a position to say "no" to any other country." (15 December 2001, Financial Times, "Transcript: Interview with Vladimir Putin")

Vladimir Lukin, Deputy Speaker of the Duma:
The decision is “worse than a crime. It's a mistake in substance and timing.” (14 December 2001, The Guardian, “Russia Puts a Brave Face on the Inevitable”)

General Anatoly Kvashnin, Chief of the Russian General Staff
“It will untie the hands of a number of countries, and may trigger a new phase of the arms race.” (14 December 2001, The Guardian, “Russia Puts a Brave Face on the Inevitable”)

Alexei Arbatov, Member of the Duma
“To put it figuratively, after the tragedy of September 11, Russia extended its hand full-length to meet the United States in the spirit of cooperation and even mutual alliance. And yesterday and today, the United States has spat into that extended hand." (14 December 2001, New York Times, “Facing Pact's End, Putin Decides To Grimace And Bear It”)

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
"The leadership of the United States has spoken about it repeatedly and this step has not come as a surprise to us. But we believe this decision to be mistaken....our country elected not to accept the insistent proposals on the part of the US to jointly withdraw from the ABM Treaty and did everything it could to preserve the Treaty. I still think that this is a correct and valid position. Russia was guided above all by the aim of preserving and strengthening the international legal foundation in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons" (13 December 2001, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, Statement)

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
"We share the concerns of the President of the United States to the fact that we must think of the future threats. And here is a common ground for our further discussions. What we differ in is that we differ in the ways and means we perceive that are suitable for reaching the same objective.  And given the nature of the relationship between the United States and Russia, one can rest assured that whatever final solution is found, it will not threaten or put to threat the interests of both our countries and of the world.  And we shall continue our discussions." (15 November 2001, White House Press Release, "President Bush and President Putin Talk to Crawford Students")

Yuri Ushakov, Russian Ambassador to the US
"We are convinced that this stability is ensured by the ABM Treaty and the related coherent system of disarmament agreements. The Treaty enables Russia and the US to jointly work on new models of a strategic relationship for the long term. Just to up and declare it a relict of the Cold War with all the ensuing consequences - that may be striking, but it doesn't solve the problem." (12 November 2001, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, "Answers to Questions from ITAR-TASS and the Newspaper Trud Washington Correspondents")

Alexander Yakovenko, Official Spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"The line of Russia with regard to the ABM Treaty has been consistent and principled. For almost 30 years the Treaty has continued to play a major role in curbing the arms race and ensuring the consistent process of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. It has fully confirmed its viability as the cornerstone of strategic stability and international security - the groundwork of a whole system of key arms control treaties and agreements….Russia intends...to handle the ABM Treaty responsibly and with care." (5 November 2001, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, Regarding the Vote in the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on the Draft Resolution on the Preservation of and Compliance with the Treaty on Antiballistic Defense.) 

Sergei Ivanov, Russian Defense Minister
"[T]he ABM Treaty is an important component, but not the only component of strategic stability. We often hear that the ABM Treaty is hopelessly outdated, that it is a relic of the Cold War. Partially -- I stress, partially -- I agree. But it's [not] only the ABM Treaty. All the fundamental Russian -- or Soviet- U.S. accords are relics of the Cold War, to some extent...But before scrapping one agreement or another -- although it is the sovereign right of the U.S. to withdraw from this or that treaty -- we believe that this should be better done only after something has been created in the ways of replacement." (3 November 2001, U.S. Department of Defense News Briefing, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Joint Press Conference with Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov) 

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
"Now about the 1972 ABM Treaty. Our position is well known. I can merely repeat it once more. We think it is an important element of stability in the world. But we agree -- and I have indicated it many times – that we should think about the future, we should look to the future and react adequately to possible future threats. We are ready to discuss it with our American partners, provided, of course, we are presented with definite parameters for the discussion." (21 October 2001, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, Conference with President Bush of the United States at Shanghai APEC Summit)

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
Asked if National Missile Defense was needed as a response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, he responded "Of course, no. For what was it that the terrorists used? Civilian aircraft. And a national missile defense system protects only against missiles and only against ballistic missiles. You understand the difference between a civilian aircraft and ballistic missiles? Even 'rogue countries' in the next 50 years will not be able not only to have, but even to come nearer to such technologies." 

Talking about possible US withdrawal from the ABM Treaty "we do think that this would be an erroneous step. And here's why. Today's system of international security is largely based on the ABM Treaty of 1972. The START-1 Treaty is connected with it, and so is the START-2 Treaty, which we have ratified. Our US partners so far haven't, unfortunately. Associated with it is a whole series of other international legal obligations in this sphere, in the sphere of international security, approximately 30 treaties and agreements. This will be destroyed overnight." (24 September 2001, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, Interview with German ARD Television Company)

Sergei Ivanov, Russian Defense Minister
"Our position on the ABM Treaty has not changed: we consider it as the basis of the entire system of arms control agreements. This system ensures strategic stability now. Radical cuts in nuclear weapons (for example, down to 1,500 warheads on each side by the year 2008) can be possible only if strategic stability is preserved, but this is unlikely if the US starts implementing its NMD plans." (10 August 2001, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, "The Development of the Armed Forces Will be Consistent with the Challenges of the Time.")

Marshal Igor Sergeyev, Former Russian Defense Minister and Adviser to President Putin
"We still haven't heard an answer to our president's question: what is wrong with the ABM treaty?" (28 July 2001, The Telegraph, "Russia Refuses to Yield Over America's Plans For Missile Shield")

Alexander Yakovenko, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman 
Asked if Moscow had changed its position on the treaty, he said: "These suggestions are absolutely untrue." Yakovenko said in an interview with RTR state television that during talks with [US National Security Adviser, Condoleezza] Rice, "we did not hear any new arguments or new elements that would make us depart from the 1972 ABM treaty." (27 July 2001, CNN, "Moscow Denies Missile Shield U-Turn") 

Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation
"(If the START treaties ceased to be considered valid) we would be able to install more atomic warheads on all our missiles and there is reason to presume that other countries would do the same," he said.  "The danger of a new arms race would become real and it would not be our fault." (16 July 2001, Reuters, "Putin Says No Need for U.S. Anti-Missile Defense")

Vladimir Rushailo, Head of President Putin's Security Council
"Russia, as well as many other countries, believes that a unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the ABM Treaty would lead to the destruction of strategic stability, a new powerful spiral of the arms race, particularly in space, and the development of means for overcoming the national missile defense system," Rushailo told reporters on a trip to Belarus, according to the Interfax news agency. (12 July 2001, AP, "Russia Warns on U.S. Missile Plans")

Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation
"Over the recent decades the world has continued as it is and was practically not once (with the exception of the Caribbean crisis) placed on the brink of global catastrophe, exclusively, I stress, because in the most sensitive area - the area of nuclear security - a certain balance had been achieved. A balance of forces and interests. We assert that the removal of the ABM Treaty of 1972 and the creation of a national missile defense for the territory of one country, in this case the USA, would upset this balance." (23 June 2001, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, Answers to Questions from Journalists at End of Austrian-Russian Summit Talks)

 Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation
"I am confident that at least for the coming 25 years" American Missile defenses "will not cause any substantial damage to the national security of Russia," he said. But he added, "We will reinforce our capability" by "mounting multiple warheads on our missiles" and "that will cost us a meager sum." And so, he said, "the nuclear arsenal of Russia will be augmented multifold." (19 June 2001, New York Times, "Putin Says Russia Would Counter U.S. Shield)
 
Marshal Igor Sergeyev, Former Russian Defense Minister and Adviser to President Putin
"We will continue to stand for upholding ABM in its current form and oppose U.S. plans for a national anti-missile system." (15 May 2001, Baltimore Sun, "Missile Shield Argument Laughable, Russian Says")

Alexander Yakovenko, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman
"The United States has been unable to give us arguments to convince us that they see clearly how to solve the problems of international security without damaging disarmament agreements which have stood for 30 years. But I want to underline that discussions will continue." (12 May 2001, Financial Times, "Russia Resists US Charm Offensive on Missiles")

Vasily Sidorov, Russian ambassador to UN Conference on Disarmament
"There is a real threat that military outer space systems could be eventually created and deployed, which would lead to undermining global strategic stability...Russia would like to draw the attention of the world community to this issue in order to prevent by joint efforts such dangerous developments.'' (22 March 2001, Reuters, "Russia Calls for Dialogue on Space Talks")

Valeri Manilov, Russia's First Deputy Chief of General Staff
"U.S. plans for NMD are "liable to destroy the balance of strategic, defensive and offensive weapons and lead to a new arms race". (2 February 2001, London Times, "Blair To Caution Bush On 'Star Wars'")

Sergei Ivanov, Secretary of Russia's Security Council
“The destruction of the ABM Treaty will result in the annihilation of the whole structure of strategic stability and create prerequisites for a new arms race, including one in outer space.” (4 February 2001, Reuters, "Russia Says U.S. Missile Plan Risks Space Arms Race")

Igor Sergeyev, Russian Defence Minister
"The ABM Treaty is a unique and perfect one, which has laid the foundation for the reduction of strategic offensive armaments. That is why we call it a cornerstone of strategic stability.” (5 February 2001, Agence France-Presse, “Russia Says Soviet-era 'Star Wars' Plans Remain An Option”)

"At the moment various opinions are being expressed about solving the problem of retaining the ABM treaty. I should like to stress again that Russia's position on the question of the ABM treaty is consistent and unchangeable. Russia will not agree to any 'adaptation' of the ABM treaty which would allow national anti-missile defenses to be deployed and thus in fact destroy the treaty.'' (5 December 2000, Reuters, "Russian Defense Chief Talks Tough on ABM")

Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation
“We believe the deployment of the national missile defense system will damage significantly the established defense system. This would absolutely change the balance of power in the international arena, and this itself is a threat.” (“Putin Asks Canada To Mediate With U.S.” Washington Post, 19 December 2000)

"We are told that the world situation over the past three decades has greatly changed: there are new missile threats and an appropriate change is  reportedly required to the ABM Treaty. The situation has indeed changed, but not so much as to break up the established system of strategic stability by diluting the ABM Treaty. Measures to counter missile and missile technology proliferation can be taken without abandoning the framework of the ABM Treaty and by acting above all through political and diplomatic methods." (14 November 2000, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, "Putin: There Should Be No Pause in Nuclear Disarmament")

Alexander Yakovenko, Russian Foreign Ministry Representative 
"The U.S. knows very well that Russia has not conducted and does not intend to conduct any negotiations with the U.S. on changing the ABM Treaty for the purpose of adapting it to the U.S. national ABM system ... Such an adaptation is not at all possible: the central provision of the ABM Treaty is a ban on the deployment of ABM systems on a country's territory, and the creation of a basis for providing such a defense or any other change to this provision would deprive the Treaty of its very meaning." (12 October 2000, Interfax, "Foreign Ministry Denies Russia Ready To Change ABM Treaty")

Vasily Sidorov, Russian ambassador to UN Conference on Disarmament
"We are convinced that the issue of missile proliferation can and must be dealt with without disrupting the ABM Treaty." (21 September 2000, Reuters "Russia, China Again Attack U.S. Missile Shield Plan")

Igor Ivanov, Russian Foreign Minister
"We expect the USA to follow in Russia's footsteps  and complete the process of ratification of the START-2 Treaty,  thus paving the way to its enforcement ... (Moscow is  prepared) to carry on the process of nuclear disarmament, to  progress towards the signing of a START-3 Treaty with an even  lower ceiling of 1,500 warheads.  But this will be possible only on the condition of the  inviolability of the 1972 ABM Treaty. Its maintenance is the  key element of global stability, a powerful barrier on the way  of the race for nuclear and missile weapons, as well as other  mass destruction weapons." (19 September 2000, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, "ABM is a Global Problem")

Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation
On President Clinton's decision to delay deployment of NMD: “I'm sure that President Clinton has made this move on the basis of a profound study and as a result of thorough reflections, which also heed the opinion of US allies and partners. Doubtless, this step will strengthen strategic stability and security all over the world, also enhancing US prestige in the eyes of the international community, particularly on the eve of the Millennium Summit.” (5 September 2000, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)

Vladimir Kozin, Deputy Head of the Committee on International Affairs within the State Duma
"Washington has yet to convince Moscow that a proposed "limited" NMD in Alaska would not be used against Russia" (25 August 2000, The Moscow Times, "Ins and Outs of Missile Defense Systems")

Colonel-General Vladimir Yakovlev, Commander of Russian Strategic Missile Forces
"The shield is always weaker than the sword. Developing new weapons is likely to give much better value for money than the National Missile Defense system. But this would lead to a new version of the Cold War, and that is not in anybody's interests…One should be very careful when deciding the scope and architecture of missile defense systems. The likely threats are, in fact, closer to Europe and Russia than to the US.” (7 August 2000, London Daily Telegraph, “Russia Hits At 'Son Of Star Wars' As 'Weak’”)

Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation
"The main international problem today is the plan to destroy the strategic balance in the world." (25 July 2000, Associated Press, “Putin: Military Development Should Be Top Priority for Russia”)

Colonel-General Vladimir Yakovlev, Commander of Russian Strategic Missile Forces
"In its current technical form, the national missile defense system, which is being tested, cannot guarantee the protection of U.S. territory. Even the first trials, which began with a failure, are an attempt by the U.S. military to defy the world community." (9 July 2000, New York Times, “Strategy Misfire: Missile Failure Carries Political Cost”)

“Deploying a National Missile Defense system will provoke an arms race and could lead to a rise in the number of countries which want to build weapons to beat this American system…These tests represent the first step toward global nuclear instability. They will directly lead to nuclear anarchy.” (7 July 2000, Deseret News, “Defense missile countdown starts”)

General Leonid Ivashov, Chief of the International Relations Department for the Russian Defense Ministry
“When estimating the threat of missile strikes the Americans give priority to… technological ability of this state or another to build missiles. Meanwhile, there is a complete absence of evaluation of the motivation.” (30 June 2000, Washington Post, “Russian Generals diverge from Clinton-Putin Stance on Missile Threat”)

Igor Sergeyev, Russian Defense Minister
“Such a step is apt to trigger an uncontrollable missile and nuclear weapons race, to jeopardize peace and security. In our opinion such actions may narrow down the prospects for further nuclear disarmament, may considerably weaken the non-proliferation regime, and may prompt the nuclear powers to reconsider their strategic weapons modernization plans." (29 June 2000, Itar-Tass, “Russia and India Worried by American ABM Plans”)

Colonel-General Valery Manilov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Russian
Armed Forces
"There are insufficient grounds for such concerns," he said. "In the foreseeable future, 10 to 15 years, there is no threat to the United States from North Korea, or from Iran or Iraq." (24 June 2000, Reuters, "New Russia-U.S. Arms Talks Set for Weekend")

Colonel-General Vladimir Yakovlev, Commander of Russian Strategic Missile Forces
On a possible withdrawal from the INF Treaty: "Such a step is possible as Moscow's asymmetrical answer to Washington's exit from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty." (21 June 2000, Reuters, "Russia May Retaliate on ABM")

Igor Sergeyev, Russian Defense Minister
"Pulling out of the 1972 ABM commitment would amount to restarting the arms race." (14 June 2000, New York Times, "Russian Officials Flesh Out Alternative Antimissile Proposal")

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
"Washington cannot realize its plans alone. It needs European help, above all from Britain, Denmark and Norway. These states risk being drawn into a process that will lead to an unpredictable destruction of strategic stability. The price could be very high." (12 June 2000, The Times (London))

Igor Ivanov, Russian Foreign Minister
On the Joint Statement by the Presidents of America and the Russian Federation on Principles of Strategic Stability: "The statement speaks about potential threats. Our position is that today there are no such threats." (9 June 2000, Reuters, "Moscow Sees Start-3 Deal but Renews ABM Stance")

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
"We're against having a cure which is worse than the disease." (5 June 2000, New York Times, “Clinton and Putin Fail to Close Gap on Missile Barrier”)

Dmitri Rogozin, Chairman of the Duma International Relations Committee
"A cannon is not the best weapon to shoot at flies." (30 May 2000, Washington Post, “Threat Of 'Rogue' States: Is It Reality Or Rhetoric?”)

Sergei Ivanov, Secretary of the Russian Security Council
"The threat from rogue states is greater to Russia than the United States. We're closer, and even a medium-range rocket can threaten us while it can't at all threaten the United States... Even the modernization, as the Americans say, of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty will lead to extremely dangerous and unpredictable tendencies." (29 May 2000, Associated Press, "Russia Official Urges No ABM Change")

Igor Ivanov, Russian Foreign Minister
“Further reductions in strategic offensive weapons can only be considered in the context of preservation of the ABM Treaty... The collapse of the ABM Treaty would undermine the entirety of disarmament agreements concluded over the last 30 years.” (25 April 2000, NPT Review Conference)

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
"The START-2 ratification bill clearly and unequivocally says that ratification is tightly linked with ruling out the creation of national anti-missile systems. If it is introduced Russia will consider itself free from this pact and other obligations." (20 April 2000, Reuters, "Moscow Warns of Threat to START II")

Anatoly Antonov, Russian delegate to UN First Committee
On UNGA Resolution 54/54A, co-sponsored by China and Belarus: "[It has a] clearly declared and unambiguously constructive objective – to guarantee the preservation and strengthening of the ABM Treaty through its strict and full scale compliance." (November 1999)

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