ABSTRACT
One of the most challenging issues regarding Euro-Atlantic security for Russia, which remained high on the agendas of both Russian presidents, is the issue of American and NATO missile defence plans and how they relate to Russia's nuclear deterrent and national security. Possessing one of the world's two largest nuclear arsenals has been a source of pride for Russia and nuclear arms reduction negotiations with the U.S. have been considered Russia's 'only 'evidence' of its superpower status' in the post-Soviet world. The Military Doctrine listed the maintenance of the country's nuclear capabilities above that of the maintenance of the Armed Forces concerning Russian efforts towards the 'prevention of military conflict'. For Medvedev and Putin, the issue of missile defence was important since it had implications not only for Russia's relations with the U.S. and NATO but also for military planning due to concerns about the impact that missile defence would have on the ability of Russia to defend itself.
