The collaboration between French commercial launch service provider Arianespace and its Russian partners continues normally amid Western sanctions imposed on Russia, President of Arianespace, Inc. Clayton Mowry told Sputnik.

Relations between Russia and the European Union member states, including France, went downhill in 2014, when Brussels joined Washington in accusing Moscow of fueling the Ukrainian crisis and imposed several rounds of sanctions as a punitive measure.

"Today we are launching as we have in the past," Mowry said on the sidelines of the 32nd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs.

Mowry explained that the company is carrying out a number of missions using the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

"We've been able to work as usual to have those launches go on time and in normal way," he said. "We are working with our partners both the satellite operators and the satellite manufacturers to obtain export licenses from the US authorities, and so far it's been smooth."

The Russian authorities have refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive. In response to the Western restrictive measures, in August 2014, Russia announced a one-year food embargo on some products originating in states that imposed sanctions against it. The ban has since been extended for another year.

In January, French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Emmanuel Macron said France hoped that the anti-Russia sanctions would be lifted this summer.

Source: Sputnik News