Russian President Vladimir Putin urged joint efforts of Russia and the United States to address the thorny issue of missile shield.

During an interview with RT international news channel aired Thursday, Putin said it was necessary to continue dialogues on the US missile defense program in Europe, but he was not sure whether Washington was "prepared for this kind of cooperation."

Noting a willingness in US President Barack Obama to revive the missile talks, Putin said Obama was dragged down by "a military lobby in the Congress and the conservative State Department."

"My feeling is that he (Obama) is a sincere man and he genuinely wants to implement positive changes. But can he do it? Will they let him do it?" Putin asked.

Putin said that, if Obama is re-elected as president, it is possible for Russia and the United States to solve the missile defense problem.

Moscow has long been opposed to the deployment of US-led European missile defense facilities near its borders and called for legally binding guarantees from the United States and NATO that the missile shield will not target Russia.

Russian Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov said previously that there had been no progress in the Russia-US missile talks.

In May, the Russian Defense Ministry threatened to destroy US missile defense facilities in Europe if Moscow considers them as real threats. A top official said Russia would create a system to overcome and suppress any anti-missile defense so as to ensure real security.