Russia has declared an ultimatum, ending its collaboration with western countries over the International Space Station until sanctions are lifted

Russia’s space director says this is the only way that the relationship between Russia and other countries will improve.

Head of Roscosmos took to social media to say that the sanctions are killing the Russian economy and plunging its “people into despair and hunger, to get” Russia “on its knees”.

He says “that the restoration of normal relations between the partners at the International Space Station and other projects is possible only with full and unconditional removal of illegal sanctions”.

It is not yet clear when exactly the cooperation will end.

This comes only weeks after the European Space Agency suspended its cooperation with Roscosmos over its Mars rover mission.