See the SpaceX ship as it joined the International Space Station 0:47
(CNN) --
Russia will withdraw from the International Space Station project "after 2024" after fulfilling its obligations, according to the Kremlin's readout of a meeting between newly appointed Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov and Russia's president, Vladimir Putin.
"You know that we are working within the framework of international cooperation on the International Space Station. We will certainly fulfill all our obligations to our partners, but the decision to leave the station after 2024 is made," Borisov told Putin at the reading. issued by the Kremlin.
"I think that by then we will begin to form the Russian orbital station," Borisov said.
Russia's withdrawal would deal a serious blow to the ISS, a model of international cooperation for decades.
The announcement comes at a time when the war in Ukraine has deeply strained relations with the United States and Europe.
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Russian cosmonauts arrived at the International Space Station dressed in yellow and blue, sparking speculation
Short circuits with the United States due to sanctions
In February, after President Biden announced new sanctions that "will degrade its (Russian) aerospace industry, including its space program," the head of Russia's space agency said such measures had the potential to "destroy our cooperation." on the International Space Station.
"If he blocks cooperation with us, who will save the International Space Station (ISS) from an uncontrolled de-orbit and crash in the United States or... in Europe?" Rogozin said at the time.
"There is also a possibility that a 500-ton structure will fall on India and China. Do you want to threaten them with such a possibility? The ISS does not fly over Russia, therefore all risks are yours. Are you ready for them? ", wrote on his Twitter account.
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The ISS, which is a collaboration between the US, Russia, Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency, is divided into two sections: the Russian orbital segment and the American orbital segment.
"The Russian segment can't function without the electricity on the US side, and the US side can't function without the propulsion systems that are on the Russian side," former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman told CNN. "So no you can do an amicable divorce.
You can't make a conscious separation."
International Space Station
