OREANDA-NEWS. The Nordic Council of Ministers on Friday, March 4, decided to freeze cooperation with Russia due to the aggravation of the situation in Ukraine.

“We are suspending any dialogue with the Russian authorities, and all agreements between Norwegian and Russian research and educational institutions must be suspended,” the cabinet’s official website said.

In this regard, the council came to the conclusion that the continuation of any form of cooperation with Russia is impossible. All educational programs, projects and activities are frozen for an indefinite period until the conflict situation is resolved. The Cabinet of Ministers recognized as undesirable further interaction with the country participating in the conflict.

Earlier in the day, in connection with the situation in Ukraine, the US Department of Commerce announced new export restrictions against the Russian Federation in relation to over 90 organizations and individuals. The list includes organizations and individuals from countries such as Estonia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Malta, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Great Britain and Russia itself.

Earlier on the same day, Germany announced the start of gas purchases bypassing Russia. However, its supplies, as well as coal and oil, are still underway.

On March 3, it became known about the introduction of a number of sanctions against 19 Russian businessmen and 47 persons associated with them against the backdrop of Moscow's special operation in the Donbass. The restrictions will primarily affect the policy of issuing visas to individual citizens of the Russian Federation.

Shortly before this, the British Foreign Office announced the imposition of sanctions by the UK against Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov and former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.