serious rollback

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Early in the morning, I read an article in IHT, where much to my regret I stumbled again on a confusing expression, namely "serious rollback". (Please see below a brief excerpt from the mentioned above article).

"The Russian foreign minister accused the United States on Wednesday of a "serious rollback" in its proposals for cooperation with Russia on missile defense in Europe, an issue that has badly strained ties between Moscow and Washington."

The only written meaning concerning the term "rollback" on hand in my dictionaries is "action by a government by means of price control, to bring the general level of prices back to a previous lower level", which in my humble opinion is unmatched for this usage.

There are also another interpretations, as: "the act of forcing the enemy to withdraw " or "reducing prices back to some earlier level". There are as well a few synonyms of "rollback", as: decrease, diminution, offence, offense, reduction, step-down. I would added likewise "retreat".

Would you be so kind to help me to make the proper option?

Thank you in advance for your efforts.

Regards.

V.

[Anglika]

I think you can take it to mean that there is a retreating from the proposals - the implication is that the US has decided not to proceed on what Russia perceived as agreed.

[vil]

Hi Anglika,

Thank you for your backing.

I take in pleasure that you approbate my own preliminary choice, namely "retreat".

Thank you again for your understanding.

Regards.

V.