In an interview with the agency on the eve of the talks, Sisilov said, “I believe this dialogue will be about how to pave this road. We will see how things will proceed,” in response to a question about the possibility of improved cooperation between the two agencies with the arrival of the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Sisilov confirmed that “NASA” and “Roscosmos” continue to exchange information daily, despite the political differences between the United States and Russia.
A NASA spokesperson added, “You know about the disagreements with Russia, which did not start only in 2018, but on both practical and technical levels, these discussions take place daily.” During a press conference, Krikalev stated, “We must work together to bring the station back to Earth safely.” Meanwhile, NASA’s Deputy Administrator for Space Programs Execution, Ken Bowersox, affirmed that “Russia and the United States will have many opportunities to continue cooperation in space exploration after the International Space Station is decommissioned, if circumstances allow.”
Bowersox stated during a press conference broadcast by NASA on its YouTube channel, “We still have many ways to continue the partnership in the future, if circumstances permit.” It is noted that the International Space Station was initially scheduled to cease operations in 2020, but “Roscosmos” and “NASA” agreed in March 2015 to extend its operations until 2024. Russia later announced in 2023 the postponement of its termination to 2028, while other participating countries in the project set 2030 as the final deadline for ending the station’s operations.
