Shoigu wants to revive misile defense dialogue

Russia wants to resume regular consultations with the United States on a range of security issues, including missile defense, a top military official said Monday, RIA-Novosti reports.

The talks could serve to bridge the yawning divisions between two nations on a series of defense matters - most notably Washington’s ongoing plans to install missile shields that Moscow says undermine its own military strategy.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a telephone conversation with his US counterpart Chuck Hagel on Monday that “no setbacks, and least of all chaos, should hamper dialogue between the military of the two great powers.”

“We are concerned about the further development of the situation around the European missile shield, and our defense minister proposed to resume regular consultations on this issue,” RIA-Novosti quotes the Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov.