PARIS, March 9. /TASS/. Dassault Systemes will suspend all new business in Russia and Belarus amid Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, the French aviation company said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Dassault Systemes has decided to suspend all new business in Russia and Belarus, and set the framework for it to take effect this week. We may maintain some minimal support activities for our existing customers who are not subject to sanctions, and will continue complying with all applicable export control restrictions and sanctions laws relevant to our operations as well as with the rules of ethics and international standards," the statement said.

"While we do not have any colleagues in Ukraine, Dassault Systemes has put measures in place to support members of our teams who have family members there, who must temporarily relocate," the company noted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine, stressing that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories. Western countries responded to the actions of the Russian authorities by slapping sanctions against physical and legal entities.