Obama: US, Russia to work on missile defense

[May 26, 2011]  DEAUVILLE, France (AP) -- President Barack Obama says the U.S. and Russia are committed to finding an approach on America's plans to build a European-based missile defense system that meets their security needs while also dealing with potential threats to both countries.

Despite improving relations between the U.S. and Russia, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has become increasingly critical of U.S. plans to build a missile defense system in Central and Eastern Europe. Russia views it as possible encroachment and Medvedev has warned that failure to cooperate with Moscow on the shield could spark a new arms race.

The two leaders discussed that issue and others Thursday on the sidelines of a meeting of industrialized nations in Deauville, France.

Obama says they will keep talking over what Medvedev said is a "sensitive" issue.

[Associated Press; By JULIE PACE]

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