Russia 'Disappointed' Over U.S. Missile Deal

MOSCOW — Russia is "extremely disappointed" that America signed a deal to deploy part of a missile-defense system in the Czech Republic and will respond appropriately, President Medvedev said.

"We won't become hysterical about this, but we'll consider how to respond," Mr. Medvedev told reporters in Toyako, Japan, today after a Group of Eight industrial nations summit.

The Russian leader said the agreement to host a radar tracking station, signed in Prague yesterday by American and Czech foreign ministers, represented a "new stage" in the development of the missile shield. "This means the idea will be realized," he said.

Secretary of State Rice told reporters in Sofia that Russia's reaction to the agreement is "disappointing" given American efforts to reassure them.

"I still hope that Russia will look at the fact that Iran is developing ever longer-range missiles, which they apparently plan to test and that Russia will see that it is not aimed at them," she said.