It is not news that the Russians and the USA have a well entrenched rivalry when it comes to space exploration. Of late they have managed to bury the hatchet and  work together at the international space station. But it seems this camaraderie  is under some serious threat following US sanctions on Russia for their actions in the Ukraine.

Russia is to deny the US future use of the International Space Station beyond 2020 and will also bar its rocket engines from launching US military satellites as it hits back at American sanctions imposed over Ukraine crisis.[…]

At a time when Moscow is struggling to reform its accident-plagued space programme, Mr Rogozin said US plans to deny export licences for some high-technology items were a blow to Russian industry. “These sanctions are out of place and inappropriate,” Mr Rogozin said. “We have enough of our own problems.”[The Telegraph]

It has also been reported that while Russia could maintain the International Space Station without US involvement, the US are reliant on the Russians in this regard. Seems Russia is holding quite a few more cards than the US at the moment. For more on this battle read here.

[Source] The Telegraph