President Bush accused Russia of backsliding on democratic reforms Tuesday, one day before he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who opposes U.S. missile defense plans.
“In Russia, reforms that were once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development,” Bush said during a speech in the Czech Republic.
The rebuke came on the eve of Bush’s meeting with Putin, who has been speaking out against U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. Although the White House says the system is designed to intercept missiles from rogue regimes like Iran, Putin calls it a threat to Moscow and vows to beef up military defenses.
“It’s a purely defensive measure, aimed not at Russia, but at true threats,” Bush told reporters during a joint appearance with Czech leaders. “Russia is not our enemy.”
Bush wants to base components of the missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland, which were once part of the Soviet bloc. That would turn Europe into a “powder keg,” according Putin, who has long been irked by the parade of Eastern European nations joining NATO.
But Bush insisted Moscow has nothing to worry about. The missile defense system is designed to protect against a small number of relatively unsophisticated rockets, not a massive nuclear arsenal like the one possessed by the Russian Federation.
“The Cold War is over. It ended,” Bush emphasized. “The people of the Czech Republic don’t have to choose between being a friend to the United States, or a friend with Russia. You can be both.”
Bush said he would even invite Russian scientists and military brass to take part in the project.
“My message will be: Vladimir…you shouldn’t fear a missile defense system,” Bush said. “As a matter of fact, why don’t you cooperate with us on a missile defense system? Why don’t you participate with the United States?”
It was unclear how that overture would be greeted by Putin, who recently threatened to re-target Russian missiles on Europe.
