Russia plans to renounce the use of the International Space Station in 2020

Dmitri Rogozin, Russia’s deputy prime minister, today announced that the country has no intention of extend the use of the International Space Station (ISS) after 2020 as proposed the United States.

“Currently we only need the ISS to 2020. After 2020 we would like to dedicate these funds to more promising space projects,” Rogozin said in remarks quoted by Russian media.

In recently last January, NASA proposed to extend the life of the station until 2024 something that would be in danger due to the announcement by Rogozin.

This because since the U.S. gave conclude its space shuttle program in 2011, the Russian space agency is the only in charge until the moment of the flights to the ISS.

Rogozin’s announcement comes at a time of diplomatic tension between the U.S. and Russia, which is being subjected to sanctions for their role in the crisis in Ukraine.