Russian ambassador criticises Poland-USA missile deal
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
27.12.2016 09:45
The Russian ambassador to NATO has criticised a recent deal signed between Poland and the US for the purchase of extended range missiles.
AGM-158 JASSM. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
“The signing of a US-Poland agreement to provide [ballistic] missiles impacts very negatively on European security,” said Russia's ambassador to NATO, Aleksandr Grushko, on Monday.
Poland will buy extended range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM-ER) worth PLN 940 million (EUR 213 million), a spokesman for the Polish defence ministry said on Saturday.
Ambassador Grushko said that the deal “will have a very negative impact, it's understandable”.
He added that Moscow plans to closely monitor the deal.
“The purchase by Poland of air-to-surface missiles is a significant new factor, which we will have to take into account in our military planning,” Grushko said.
The US Department of Defence's Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement that it agreed to the supply of 70 of the Lockheed Martin manufactured missiles, eight training missiles and a simulator.
According to the PAP news agency, Poland plans to buy 40 missiles. (rg)