Iceland says the “current situation” means its continued diplomatic presence in Russia is not “viable”
Iceland has announced that it’s suspending operations at its Moscow embassy, arguing that maintaining a diplomatic presence in Russia makes no sense given the current state of bilateral relations.
Reykjavik has said the move does not mean cutting ties completely, and expressed hope that relations could improve at some point down the road.
In a statement published by Iceland’s foreign ministry on Friday, diplomats said the embassy in the Russian capital would cease functioning on August 1.
Foreign Minister Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir described the decision as “not an easy” one, noting that Reykjavik and Moscow have maintained diplomatic relations since the island nation declared independence from Denmark back in 1944.
“However, the current situation simply does not make it viable for the small foreign service of Iceland to operate an embassy in Russia,” the statement said.
It added that, “at the moment, commercial, cultural or political relations with Russia are at an all-time low,” and keeping the Icelandic embassy in Moscow operational is “no longer justifiable.”
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