U.S. President Barack Obama has told east European states he is backing away from plans for an anti-missile shield there. This is a move that may ease Russian-U.S. ties but fuel fears of resurgent Kremlin influence.

The shield was promoted by Obama’s predecessor George W. Bush and involves interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar complex in the Czech Republic. The purpose was to defend against any missile launches from states such as Iran and North Korea.

Polish Prime Minister says the change will not reduce the country’s security.

[Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland]:
“I wouldn't call today's events Poland's failure. I will say more, being in this part of the world we will always have to work on security. The day will never come when someone will be able to say we are 100 percent safe, but thankfully nobody can say today that we are in a worse situation than yesterday.”

Washington is now examining an alternative to the “large, fixed system” of the shield, which would target medium-range missiles rather than long-range rockets seen as a threat.

The Obama administration seeks to ease ties with Russia so they could cooperate on Iran, on fighting Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan and on reducing their vast arsenals of nuclear weapons.

Russia is allowing the United States to move trains carrying supplies for U.S. forces across the country via Central Asia to Afghanistan, avoiding routes through Pakistan.

Washington also wants Russian support in economic sanctions against Tehran, which develops nuclear weapons.

Diplomats in Moscow say Russian hardliners could view the back down as a sign of weakness. But Eastern European states, especially Poland and Baltic states, saw the plan as a symbol of U.S. commitment to the defense of the region.