MOSCOW - Fiery Russian condemnation of the allied air assault on Libya threatened to complicate Defense Secretary Robert Gates' meetings here Tuesday with leaders who are already at odds with the U.S. over missile defence issues.
Gates was scheduled to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov. But he was not expected to see Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who railed Monday against the strikes on Libya, likening them to "a medieval call for a crusade." Putin appeared to link the Libya action to the ongoing debate between the U.S. and Russia over the planned European missile defense shield, suggesting that it proved Russia is correct to heighten its own defences.
Moscow leaders have said the proposed missile defence plan, which is aimed at countering future Iranian threats, could be aimed at Russian missiles or could undermine Russia's security interests. The plan, which is under way, begins with ship-based, anti-missile interceptors and radars, and would add land-based radars in Southern Europe later this year.
Russia abstained in the UN Security Council vote for intervention in Libya, essentially allowing the military action to go forward. But as the coalition pounded Libyan air defenses and military arms for the third day, it was unclear whether Putin's protest was public posturing or if it actually signaled remorse about the vote.
Meanwhile, even as the U.S. vows to relinquish the lead in the Libyan operation, there was discord in Europe over whether it should be turned over to NATO. U.S. officials, including Gates, have said the U.S. expects to hand over leadership, either to NATO or to the British and French, in a matter of days.
Turkey blocked NATO's participation in the operation, while Italy issued a veiled threat to withdraw the use of its bases unless the alliance is put in charge.
