The United States says it has no plans to deploy U.S. radar systems orweaponry in Ukraine, following comments by a U.S. defense official thatcaused Russia to seek clarification.

Alexander Vershbow (file photo) U.S. Assistant Secretary ofDefense Alexander Vershbow was quoted by Defense News magazine Thursdayas saying Washington had added Ukraine to a list of possible earlywarning sites in the region for a newly reconfigured missile defensesystem.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that Vershbow's statement was "unexpected" and called on the U.S. to explain.

Vershbowtold reporters Thursday that countries in the region, includingUkraine, may have radar that could contribute to an early-warningsystem.  The U. S. Defense Department said Vershbow said nothing aboutstationing U.S. radar or any other missile defense system in Ukraine.

PresidentObama announced last month that he would replace the Bushadministration's plan for a missile shield in Eastern Europe with a newand more flexible system based on new intelligence and technology.

Newlyappointed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Petro Poroshenko said Friday thatdeploying a new anti-missile system in Ukraine would be"unconstitutional."

The Ukrainian parliament voted Friday toconfirm Poroshenko - an ally of Ukraine's embattled President ViktorYushchenko - as the country's foreign minister.

RussianPresident Dmitri Medvedev refused to hold talks with the pro-westernYushchenko Friday in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau,  during a summitof the Commonwealth of Independent States, a gathering of former Sovietrepublics.

Mr. Medvedev has publicly blamed Mr. Yushchenko forwhat he says are Ukraine's anti-Russian policies, including a push forNATO membership.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.