Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has welcomed as "positive" the US decision to shelve controversial missile defence bases in Poland and the Czech Republic.

俄国总统梅德韦杰夫对美国决定搁置在波兰和捷克军事基地具有争议的导弹防御计划表示了“肯定”。

Mr Medvedev will hold missile talks with Mr Obama next week

Mr Medvedev said there were now "good conditions" for US-Russia talks on tackling missile proliferation（增殖，分芽繁殖）.

US President Barack Obama had earlier announced there would be a shift in US missile defence strategy, following a review of the threat posed by Iran.

However, US Republicans have called the move "short-sighted" and "harmful".

Some said it was a concession¹（让步，妥协） to Moscow with nothing in return.

Russia had long objected to（反对） plans pursued by the administration of former-President George W Bush to base a missile interceptor（妨碍者） system close to its borders, calling it a threat to its security.

Mr Bush had argued the system was to defend against missiles from "rogue² states（无赖国家）" like Iran.

Mr Obama ordered a review on taking office earlier this year.

On Thursday he said that new intelligence had shown Iran was pursuing short-range and medium-range missile development, rather than long-range.

He said the US therefore needed a "proven, cost-effective" system that would use land- and sea-based interceptors against the evolving threat.

The US "no longer planned to move forward" with the old shield scheme, the White House said.

In an address on Russian television, Mr Medvedev said Mr Obama was "correcting" the US approach to missile defence.

Mr Medvedev said that he and Mr Obama had in earlier meetings expressed the need to work together to assess the risks of missile proliferation.

"The statement made in Washington today shows that quite good conditions are evolving for such work," Mr Medvedev said.

'Hopeful signal'

The two countries are currently in talks about reducing their nuclear stockpiles（核储备）.

Mr Medvedev said he would discuss the issues with Mr Obama during a visit to the United Nations in New York next week.

The US move was also welcomed by German Chancellor³ Angela Merkel.

"I see the decision today as a very hopeful signal that we can overcome the difficulties with Russia and develop a united front to counter the threat of Iran," she said.

However, Republicans in the US have condemned⁴ Mr Obama's move.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said it was "short-sighted and harmful to our long-term security interests".

Defeated presidential candidate John McCain called the decision "seriously misguided（搞错的）".

"Given the serious and growing threats posed by Iran's missile and nuclear programmes, now is the time when we should look to strengthen our defences, and those of our allies."

But Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the decision was "brilliant" and clearly based on an accurate summary of the current threats.

The missile shield in question was first confirmed in August 2008, when the US signed a deal with Poland to site 10 interceptors at a base near the Baltic Sea, and with the Czech Republic to build a radar⁵ station on its territory.

On Thursday Mr Obama said the review he had ordered had shown the threat from Iran had altered.

There was now a need for a more flexible approach to provide "a stronger, smarter and swifter defence" of US and allied⁶ forces in Europe.

Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the first phase of the new strategy would be to deploy⁷ "current and proven missile defence systems in the next two years", including the sea-based Aegis⁸ and SM-3 interceptors.

BBC defence and security correspondent Nick Childs says the new US strategy is based on mobility⁹ and flexibility¹⁰.

Proven defence systems will be based first on warships¹¹ and then on land, and will be upgraded over the next decade, he says.

Mr Gates stressed the US was not abandoning missile defence of Europe.

He said negotiations¹² were under way with both Poland and the Czech Republic about deploying¹³ upgraded SM-3 interceptors from 2015.