Russia will not deploy missiles in its westernmost region if the United States agrees to use a base in Russia instead of Eastern Europe, according First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov.

The remark echoes the latest proposal on creating a joint-use radar system made by President Putin to President Bush during a visit to the U.S.

Mr Putin also widened the proposed alliance to include other European nations which may wish to share in the intelligence provided by any new missile monitoring stations.