Combative Putin bashes West on eve of G8 summit

By Christian Lowe

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has set the stage for a frosty Group of Eight summit this week by launching broadsides at the West over missile defence, Kosovo and democratic standards.

Putin will meet U.S. President George W. Bush and other world leaders on Wednesday when they assemble in the German Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm for their annual G8 meeting.

Putin signalled he would arrive at the summit in combative mood, in an interview released on Sunday in which he reserved his most uncompromising language to lambast the United States over its plans to build a missile defence shield in Europe.

He also indicated he would not shy away from fights with German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her criticism of his human rights record and British Prime Minister Tony Blair over the politically-charged murder of a former Russian spy.

On missile defence, Putin said that if the United States went ahead with its plan to station elements of a missile shield in eastern Europe, Russia would retaliate by training its missiles on targets in Europe.

Russia has not specifically aimed its missiles at Europe since the end of the Cold War but, asked if it might do so again if the U.S. missile shield plan went ahead, Putin said: "Of course we are returning to those times.

"It is clear that if a part of the U.S. nuclear capability turns up in Europe, and, in the opinion of our military specialists, will threaten us, then we are forced to take corresponding steps in response."

"What will those steps be? Naturally, we will have to have new targets in Europe."