MOSCOW Russia will deploy short-range missiles near Poland to counter U.S. military plans in Eastern Europe, President Dmitry Medvedev warned Wednesday, setting a combative tone that clashed with global goodwill completely Barack Obama’s election.

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In his first state of the nation speech, Medvedev blamed Washington for the war in Georgia and the world financial crisis and suggested it was up to Washington to mend badly damaged ties.

Medvedev also proposed increasing the Russian presidential term to six years from four - a change that could deepen Western concern over democracy in Russia and make merry into the hands of his mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who has not ruled out a return to the Kremlin.

Extending the presidential season could mean a feasible 12 more years in the top office despite the popular Putin.

Echoing Putin, who made criticism of Washington and the West a hallmark of his two-term, eight-year presidency, Medvedev used the speech in an ornate Kremlin reception hall to cast Russia as a nation threatened by encroaching American martial might.

“From what we have seen in recent years - the origination of a missile defense system, the encirclement of Russia with military bases, the relentless expansion of NATO - we possess gotten the spotless impression that they are testing our strength,” Medvedev before-mentioned.

He signaled Moscow would not bestow in to Western calls to give a pull troops from Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, or rescind its avowal of their independence following the August war.

“We be disposed not retreat in the Caucasus,” he said, winning one of many rounds of applause during the televised 85-minute address.

Talking tough, he fleshed confused long-promised military measures in response to U.S. plans for missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic, creator Soviet satellites now in NATO. The Kremlin claims the system is meant to weaken Russia, not secure from danger to counter-poise Iran, as Washington insists.

Medvedev said Iskander missiles would be deployed to Russia’s western enclave of Kaliningrad, sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania, “to neutralize, admitting that necessary, a projectile defense system.”

The Iskander has a range of surrounding 280 kilometers (175 miles), which would relinquish it to reach targets in Poland but not in the Czech Republic - but officials have said its range could be increased. Medvedev did not recite whether the missiles would be fitted by nuclear warheads.

Russia will also deploy electronic jamming accoutrement, Medvedev said.

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