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Governor Mike Pence In Berlin: Diplomacy with Russia Has Failed

Says West must promote free trade, install missile defenses in Poland, Czech Republic

Gov. Mike Pence (R., Ind.) on Wednesday declared the "reset" of U.S.-Russian relations a failure and called for the construction of a European missile defense shield to deter Russian aggression.

"With Russian aggression on the rise again, it is clear that our policy of conciliatory diplomacy has failed, Pence said at a Friends of Indiana reception in Berlin, Germany.

"While new sanctions are of some value, in the interest of our alliance, I believe the United States and the EU must respond with deeds more than words to strengthen our economic and strategic defenses," Pence added.

Pence then called for the deployment of a "robust missile defense" for all of Europe.

"With continued instability in the Middle East, and Putin's aggression in Ukraine, I believe we must take immediate steps to strengthen our mutual security by deploying a robust missile defense in all of Europe – including Poland and the Czech Republic – to protect the interests of our NATO allies and the United States in the region," he said.

Published under: Russia , Vladimir Putin