Russia claims being snubbed over missile shield talks

Polish diplomats ensure that Prime Minister Donald Tusk will be welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, however, one Russian government spokesperson declared that the meeting is not yet on Putin's agenda. The announcement of Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski made last week after visiting the US, that the countries have agreed on the, "terms of constructing the shield," was understood by the Russians as the final decision has already been made. "We recognized the words of the Prime Minister as good will, when he said that the issue of the shield will be resolved through a dialogue with Washington, Brussels and Moscow. Now it is clear that the dialogue with Moscow has been ended before it really began," said the Russian Ambassador to NATO Dmitrij Rogozin. (Dziennik, p. 1; Rzeczpospolita, p. A6) A.K.