The Russian Space Agency wants to end cooperation with the International Space Station on sanctions

The Russian space agency Roscosmos wants to withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS) due to internationally imposed sanctions. This is what the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin is Saturday said† Rogozin said that working together “on the International Space Station and other joint projects” is only possible if “illegal sanctions” against Russia are lifted.

According to Rogozin, the goal of the sanctions is “to destroy the Russian economy, plunge our people into despair and hunger, and bring Russia to its knees.” The European Union and the United States, among others, must first withdraw their sanctions if Roscosmos still wants to work with its American counterparts NASA and the European Space Agency.

It is not clear when exactly Russia will withdraw its personnel from the International Space Station and other projects. Rogozin later informed the Russian authorities of a plan to end cooperation. Currently, there are said to be two astronauts aboard the International Space Station, along with four American and one German astronauts. Joel Montalbano, ISS program manager, previously stated that these astronauts “need each other to operate the ISS.”