Russia: Cooperation in Space Only Possible If Sanctions Are Lifted

Russia's space director affirmed, on Saturday, that space cooperation would be possible only once Western sanctions against Moscow are lifted.

In a social media post, Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, noted that the aim of the sanctions is to "kill Russian economy and plunge our people into despair and hunger, to get our country on its knees".

He also asserted that, "they won't succeed in it, but the intentions are clear".

"That's why I believe that the restoration of normal relations between the partners at the International Space Station (ISS) and other projects is possible only with full and unconditional removal of illegal sanctions," Rogozin said.

Rogozin added that Roscosmos' proposals on when to end cooperation between partners at the International Space Station (ISS) and other joint space agencies of the United States, Canada, the European Union and Japan will soon be reported to Russian authorities.

The West has introduced sweeping sanctions against Russia over what Moscow calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine, launched on Feb. 24.