DEAUVILLE, France - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said May 26 after talks with U.S. President Barack Obama that an ultimate solution to the long-running row over missile defense may not happen until after 2020.
Medvedev and Obama met on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Deauville, and they also discussed the economy, counterterrorism and Russia's pending entry into the World Trade Organization.
Before the summit, Medvedev had warned of the chances of a new Cold War in Europe should Washington build its missile system without the Kremlin's agreement, although other Russian officials played down the row.
Obama and Medvedev looked stern-faced as they spoke to reporters after the talks, but both insisted that U.S.-Russian ties, "reset" under the Obama administration, were in good shape.
Medvedev said the missile defense issue "will finally be solved in the future, like for example in the year 2020" by future politicians.
But he added that he and the U.S. leader could "lay the foundation for other politicians," and called Obama his "colleague and political partner."
Obama said he and Medvedev were "committed to working together so we can find an approach and configuration that is consistent with the security needs of both countries ... that maintains a strategic balance and deals with potential threats we both share."
Russia's recent tough talk and decision to test two nuclear-capable heavy missiles in the past month underscore a fear in Moscow that the Obama administration is paying lip service to U.S.-Russian relations.
Moscow has in recent months complained that it is being sidelined in talks over the joint missile defense for Europe and Medvedev's remarks may underscore the Kremlin's disappointment over the current negotiations.
The United States argues that the shield is meant only to protect Europe from nations such as Iran but has said nothing about Russian security safeguards.
Analysts note that Moscow is primarily worried the system will leave a permanent stamp on the security map of Europe and formalize the reduced role Russia plays in the post-Cold War world.
Medvedev and Obama met on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Deauville, and they also discussed the economy, counterterrorism and Russia's pending entry into the World Trade Organization.
Before the summit, Medvedev had warned of the chances of a new Cold War in Europe should Washington build its missile system without the Kremlin's agreement, although other Russian officials played down the row.
Obama and Medvedev looked stern-faced as they spoke to reporters after the talks, but both insisted that U.S.-Russian ties, "reset" under the Obama administration, were in good shape.
Medvedev said the missile defense issue "will finally be solved in the future, like for example in the year 2020" by future politicians.
But he added that he and the U.S. leader could "lay the foundation for other politicians," and called Obama his "colleague and political partner."
Obama said he and Medvedev were "committed to working together so we can find an approach and configuration that is consistent with the security needs of both countries ... that maintains a strategic balance and deals with potential threats we both share."
Russia's recent tough talk and decision to test two nuclear-capable heavy missiles in the past month underscore a fear in Moscow that the Obama administration is paying lip service to U.S.-Russian relations.
Moscow has in recent months complained that it is being sidelined in talks over the joint missile defense for Europe and Medvedev's remarks may underscore the Kremlin's disappointment over the current negotiations.
The United States argues that the shield is meant only to protect Europe from nations such as Iran but has said nothing about Russian security safeguards.
Analysts note that Moscow is primarily worried the system will leave a permanent stamp on the security map of Europe and formalize the reduced role Russia plays in the post-Cold War world.
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