Russia to leave International Space Station project after 2024

Russia announced plans on Monday to withdraw from the International Space Station project after 2024, according to a transcript from a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Roscosmos State Space Corporation General Director Yury Borisov.

The United States, Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe launched the multinational space station in 1998 and have been cooperating on the project ever since.

"Mr. Putin, you know that we are working within the framework of international cooperation on the International Space Station. Of course, we will fulfill all our obligations to our partners, but the decision to leave this station after 2024 has been made," Borisov said, according to the meeting readout translated by Google.

He predicted that within two years, Russia will start forming its own station. 

"I think that by this time we will begin to form the Russian orbital station. I believe that the future of Russian manned cosmonautics, first of all, should be based on a balanced and systematic scientific program, so that each flight enriches us with knowledge in the field of space," he said. 

"Good," Putin responded.

News about the plans to withdraw from the ISS comes more than five months into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has been condemned by other space station member states.