When U.S.President Barack Obama announced last month that the old missile shield was being canceled, the Polish political establishment panicked.

VOA: standard.2009.10.22

Mr.Obama's announcement last month that he was canceling the planned Bush-era missile shield ruffled a lot of feathers in Poland.

VOA: standard.2009.10.21

Secretary Gates said that while the missile shield was never a threat to Russia, the new configuration will likely allay some of Moscow's concerns.

VOA: standard.2009.09.17

He was speaking as a senior Russian general revealed that Moscow is preparing a missile shield for Europe.

CNN: UK signals support for missile plan

The United States says the missile shield would protect against rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.

NPR: Tensions Rise in U.S.-Russia Relationship

Now it may be that President Putin thinks he can get long-term leverage as America discusses its anti-missile shield.

BBC: Jonathan Charles in Moscow