TODAY: Russia expresses alarm at EU moves towards eastern Europe; US missile base could be met with Iskander missiles; corruption claims launched against the Other Russia; Gorbachev says democracy waning; air hostesses on hunger strike

The BBC reports that, among other tensions overshadowing the Russia-EU summit, President Medvedev has warned the European Union against encouraging the Eastern Partnership to become a partnership ‘against Russia‘.  U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said Washington remains undecided on the issue of a planned missile defense system in Europe.  According to the New York Times, Russia could deploy its latest Iskander missiles near Poland if the plans to settle U.S. Patriots on Polish soil go forth.  ‘The Bomb gets Russia disproportionate privileges in Washington‘: the Times comments upon how atomic weaponry has been Russia’s calling card in global affairs for half a century.  According to Ria-Novosti, Russia has said that resuming the work of the Russia-NATO Council depends upon ‘how much our partners are ready in practice to build relations with Russia‘.