Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova reminded that Russia is open to international cooperation in the Arctic

Russia is open to cooperation with states in the Arctic and strengthening sovereignty in the high latitudes, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

She stressed that "the artificial pulling of the Ukrainian issue into the orbit of the Arctic Council does not meet the organization's goals of preserving the region as a territory of peace, stability and constructive cooperation.

Today an effective and sustainable development of the Arctic is impossible without Russia. Our country accounts for 60% of the Arctic coast and more than half of the region's population. 

"The Russian Federation intends to continue to pursue constructive approaches to interaction in the Arctic, strengthening its sovereignty in the high latitudes," Zakharova said.

Earlier, the Western member countries of the Arctic Council issued a written statement in which they refused to participate in the meetings held under the Russian chairmanship and on its territory because of the situation around Ukraine.


Photo: Press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry