HELSINKI, March 9. /TASS/. Scandinavian nations and the EU have decided to suspend cooperation with Russia within the framework of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC), according to the joint statement released by the Norwegian government.

"<...> Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the European Union have no other choice than to suspend activities involving Russia in the Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation," the statement said.

It added that these countries "remain convinced of the enduring value of Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation" and reiterate their support for this institution and its work.

The cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region (BEAR) was launched in 1993.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address 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. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories. After that the US, the EU, the UK and a number of other states announced that they would impose sanctions against Russian legal entities and individuals.