Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov announced on Jan. 15 that Russia "will definitely develop theater missile defense systems, as well as space defenses." He asserted that plans for doing so had been put in motion over a year ago. Ivanov pointed out that Russia was free of any restrictions that arms control agreements - like the now-defunct Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty - would have provided, but he did admit that Russia's missile defense program would be limited by "common sense, technical possibilities, and the state of [its] economy." U.S. officials played down Ivanov's remarks, noting that the United States has made offers to cooperate with Russia on missile defense.
Washington Times, Jan. 16, 2003; Voice of America, Jan. 15, 2003