Suspension of member countries' participation in Arctic Council to inevitably increase security risks, challenges - Russian Foreign Ministry

(Interfax) - The decision of seven member states of the Arctic Council to suspend participation in the Arctic Council's formal events will lead to an increase in security challenges in the region, and Russia will seek to minimize the negative implications from this decision, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador at Large, Russian Senior Official in the Arctic Council Nikolai Korchunov said.

"The temporary freeze on participation in the Arctic Council, which has been declared by the other member states, will inevitably lead to an increase in risks and challenges to soft security in the region, which the Arctic Council has been effectively dealing with," Korchunov told Interfax.

Under these circumstances, "it is crucial to preserve Arctic Council projects so that cooperation could continue when the situation allows that and so that no harm be done to those depending on these projects," he said.

"We will seek to minimize possible negative consequences of the suspension of cooperation," Korchunov said.