Russia suspends nuclear research cooperation with the US

Russia announced that it is suspending nuclear research projects with the US and no longer trusts Washington in this sensitive field.

Russia suspends nuclear research cooperation with the US. Illustration photo: Reuters.

The Russian government on October 5 issued an order signed by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, calling for a "temporary suspension" of an agreement on cooperation in scientific research and development in the nuclear and energy sectors, AFP reported.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the US had "frozen practical cooperation" and "in this situation, Russia was forced to suspend the implementation of the agreement in response to unfriendly actions from the US".

Moscow "no longer trusts Washington in such a sensitive area". US citizens "are not allowed into Russian nuclear facilities" and research institutes of the two countries are not allowed to cooperate directly.

An agreement between Russian nuclear agency Rosatom and the US Department of Energy on research into converting Russian reactors to use low-enriched uranium has also been suspended.

"If we need to change, we will do it ourselves," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. A Rosatom spokesman said practical cooperation "has been stopped for two years" and no new contracts are in place.

The US State Department "regrets" Moscow's unilateral suspension of cooperation. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said yesterday that Washington is still ready to continue cooperation with Russia "for mutual benefit".

Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 3 ordered a halt to cooperation with the US in the processing of weapons-grade plutonium. Tensions between Russia and the US increased after Washington abandoned ceasefire negotiations in Syria, citing Moscow’s continued bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s government./.

According to VNE