“We are not going to isolate ourselves. In general it is impossible to isolate someone in the modern world; it is definitely impossible to isolate a country as big as Russia,” the President stressed during a visit to the space launch facility in the Russian region of Amur, with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko.

The heads of state recalled that Russia and the world are celebrating this April 12th the 61st anniversary of the first manned flight into space by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

Putin recalled that in 1961 the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was in complete isolation from the technological point of view and Western sanctions hit all spheres of development.

In regards to this, he said that today’s Russia with advanced technologies will be able to further develop its space program up to 2030, and assured the country will achieve this.

Russia will resume its lunar program and wants to launch the Luna 25 automated rover, he added during the meeting, which also saw the handing of state prizes to Russian cosmonauts.

He explained that the nation is working on the creation of a new-generation transport ship and nuclear space energy technology, field in which the country has “an absolutely clear advantage.”

He stressed that despite the harships and attempts to hinder the country’s development from abroad, Russia will implement all scheduled plans in the space field with its own technologies, to replace those previously bought with oil and gas profits.

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