As a result of mounting US sanctions that deny export licenses for high-tech items that might be used to strengthen Russian military’s capabilities, Russia has taken a retaliatory step and threatened to prevent the US form using Russian space shuttles.
In this regard, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said via twitter that “the United States imposed sanctions against Russia’s space industry, and they will reply to statements by statements, to actions by actions.”
“The US should start using a trampoline to deliver astronauts to the ISS,” he said sarcastically.
However, sources said that the Russian warning is nothing but an empty threat, explaining that although the US is dependent on Russian shuttles to send astronauts to the International Space Station, it pays Russia an enormous amount of money that reaches $60 million per astronaut and since Russia is lacking in funds at the moment, it is unlikely to put an end to this funding source.
According to a number of newspapers, “there is no need to panic, and it is incredibly unlikely that the Russian threats will be implemented leading the astronauts currently on board the ISS to become “stranded” in space.”