Harsh words from Moscow

In his first state-of-the-nation address Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced that Russia would set up surface-to-surface missiles as a reaction to the planned US missile defence shield. The Italian daily La Stampa sees this as a further move towards Russia's isolation. "Even the enemies in Venezuela and Iran had hoped for a turning point. Only Dmitry Medvedev, who because he belongs to the same generation could be a good partner for Barack Obama, did not. For the young head of the Kremlin nothing seems to have changed. On the very day of Obama's election victory he has made renewed military threats in parliament. ... The Russians see the missile defence shield in Poland as a threat and Medvedev has promised to respond with an arsenal [of weapons]. ... As far as Medvedev is concerned America is also to blame for the financial crisis and the war in Georgia. Medvedev's message is unambiguous. It is the threat of a leader whose intentions are as yet unclear."

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