Russia has suspended payment of contributions to the Arctic Council until work in that format resumes, the Foreign Ministry said.
It is about the implementation of common projects touching upon important issues: preservation of the Polar region ecosystem, implementation of research, development of humanitarian ties, improvement of the welfare of the Far North residents, RIA Novosti reported.
Earlier Maria Zakharova noted that the withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the Arctic Council can make it "unfriendly institution".
At the same time, the Foreign Ministry stressed that now the issue of Russia's possible withdrawal from the Arctic Council is not in practical terms.
We shall remind you that the government approved the third stage of the BAM and Trans-Siberian railway development.