U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has told Polish President Lech Kaczynski that he intends to continue plans for a missile shield in eastern Europe, the Polish president's office said on its Web site Saturday.
Barack Obama reportedly told his Polish counterpart the missile shield would be constructed, CNN reported.
Obama spoke of his plans during a phone conversation with Kaczynski, the office said.
During the call, Obama said he hoped for continued military and political cooperation between the United States and Poland and hoped to meet with Kaczynski soon, according to the report.
Moscow is infuriated by U.S. plans for the missile-defense installation, which includes basing missile interceptors in Poland. The interceptor rockets would be linked to an air-defense radar system in the Czech Republic.
The United States has tried to mollify Russia by stressing the missile defense is directed at rogue states, such as Iran, and the number of interceptors in the shield would be "easily overwhelmed" by Russian forces.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in his first state-of-the-nation speech since taking office earlier this year, warned this week that Russian missiles will be deployed against the planned system.
"The Iskander missile system will be deployed in Kaliningrad region to neutralize, when necessary, the missile shield," Medvedev said. "We are also planning to use the resources of the Russian naval fleet for these purposes."
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Medvedev's announcement that Russia would deploy missiles in response to the shield is "disappointing."
Russian officials have warned that deploying the missile shield would open Poland up to an attack in the event of conflict.
Under the U.S. plan, the interceptor rockets in Poland would be linked to an air-defense radar system in the Czech Republic.
Russia fears the missile shield would blunt its nuclear deterrent.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman reiterated Wednesday that the missiles are not aimed at Russia and are designed as a defensive shield for U.S. allies in Europe. He said the shield is designed with the possibility of Iranian ballistic missiles in mind.