Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated Dec. 14 that Russia seeks for discussing issues of the exploration and use of outer space at the interstate level with the United Nations playing a central role, reported TASS. “As an alternative to the narrow, national and multinational off-UN initiatives, we are promoting a broad international dialogue involving the maximum possible circle of participants, with the center of the United Nations as a universal international platform.… Such a course is not shared by the United States, its Anglo-Saxon allies, and Japan, which are seeking to use every possible pretext to ensure utter freedom of action for themselves.”
He underlined that Russia is interested in preventing the erosion of international law, in particular, Article 6 of the Outer Space Treaty, which places responsibility for national activities in space on states, but not on legal entities or private individuals. The measure is also aimed at the Artemis Accords, which claims to provide the basis for using outer space and which signing is a prerequisite for countries to participate in the U.S. Artemis Moon-Mars mission. Neither Russia nor China are participants — China, restricted from participation by U.S. law, and Russia by choice.
