Russia threatens nuclear attack

8220;That of course is Ukraine8217;s internal process and we don8217;t have the right, and we won8217;t, interfere in this process. But that raises the question for Russia of the need for retaliatory actions.

8220;It8217;s frightening not just to talk about, but even to think about, that in response to such deployment, the possibility of such deployments 8212; and one can8217;t theoretically exclude these deployments 8212; that Russia will have to point its war heads at Ukrainian territory,8221; Putin said.

Yushchenko responded to the Russian pressure by insisting on Ukraine8217;s right to decide its foreign policy.

8220;You understand well that everything that Ukraine does in this direction is not in any way directed at any third country, including Russia. We follow the principle that any nation has the right to define its own security,8221; he said.

However, Yushchenko said that Ukraine8217;s constitution 8220;does not allow deployment by a third country8221; on its soil.

Despite NATO8217;s repeated reassurances, Russia has long condemned Washington8217;s plans to include Poland and the Czech Republic in a missile defence shield as a 8220;new phase in the arms race8221;.

Russia fears the shield will threaten its national security and tip strategic military balance in Europe. 8220;The goal of the missile shield is to neutralise our nuclear capabilities,8221; Putin had earlier said.