Eurobanks, not US banks -- 70% of Russia's foreign debt is owed to German banks alone. Putin doesn't give a damn about the ABM because (1) everyone except the US Regency knows it's a perfectly idiotic Cold War boondoggle which will only enfeeble the US economy further, and (2) the real action is, how soon does Russia get to join the EU. At least four countries will join in 2004, maybe more, and most of Eastern Europe will be in by 2010. There's a good summary of what the acquis involves at:
---------------
Putin himself and his advisers probably know NMD is a load of bullshit, but a lot of people in the Russian elite and society at large take it pretty seriously. Russia is an extremely anti-American country.
THough on TV news tonight the commentator said something like, "Who cares? We've got 2000 ICBMs! The Americans can't block em all!"
I was under the impression that far more serious than NMD is the possible installation of space-based weapons as the ultimate goal.
Chris Doss The Russia Journal