February 14, 2024

Russia has suspended the payment of annual contributions to the Arctic Council. The officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the RF told this to RIA Novosti Agency. It is noted that the payment is suspended until the resumption of practical work in this format with the participation of all member states. The ministry officials added that Moscow may consider withdrawing from this organization, but at the moment, they are not considering it.

The Arctic Council was established in 1996 as an international organization of Arctic states for cooperation in the field of environmental protection in the circumpolar regions. Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, USA, Finland and Sweden are members of the council.

Earlier, Ambassador-at-Large of the MFA of RF Nikolay Korchunov admitted that Moscow could withdraw from the Arctic Council if its activities does not correspond to the interests of the country. At the same time, Vladimir Jabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, expressed the opinion that the activities of the Arctic Council will lose their sense without Russia's participation in it.

Source: https://m.lenta.ru/news/2024/02/14/payments/

Translated by Muhiddin Ganiev