Moscow has announced the suspension of cooperation with the US in the nuclear and energy sectors. In a written statement the Kremlin said Washington violated the agreement by imposing sanctions on Russia over Ukraine.
The decree on halting the cooperation agreement was signed by the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and published on the Cabinet’s website. It is due to come into effect 90 days after a respective notification has been received from the American side.
“In connection with the imposition of restrictions on cooperation with the Russian Federation in nuclear energy by the United States of America… to suspend the agreement between the government of the Russian Federation and the government of the United States of America on cooperation in research and development in the nuclear and energy sectors,” the statement says.
The agreement was signed by both countries in September 2013 and was aimed at scientific and technical cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. That included nuclear safety, planning of new power plants, joint management of radioactive waste and use of nuclear energy for medical and industrial purposes.
In April 2014, Russia’s leading nuclear company, Rosatom, received a note from the US Department of Energy announcing a stop to cooperation due to an “order from Washington” over the Ukraine crisis. As a result, the US canceled “bilateral meetings and events on nuclear energy,” an explanatory note to the Russian decree says.
“The actions taken by the US in connection with imposing sanctions against Russia have directly affected the areas of cooperation envisioned by the agreement” and demanded “counter measures,” the Russian document went on.
It adds that the US actions made visits of American experts to Russian nuclear sites and any potential information exchange “inexpedient.” Source
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