Russia

No state can appropriate the Moon under international law — expert

TASS English · 2026-09-07

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: Space industry expert Yevgeny Kuznetsov stated that under current international law, no state can claim sovereignty over the Moon, as outlined in the Outer Space Treaty. However, states and private entities can establish research and technological infrastructure and conduct activities on the Moon. • Why it matters: This clarification emphasizes the legal framework governing lunar exploration and resource utilization, highlighting the distinction between ownership of infrastructure and territorial claims, which is crucial as lunar activities increase. • What to watch next: As lunar exploration expands, attention will turn to the development of regulations for resource extraction, operational zones, and security measures to prevent conflicts among various missions and stakeholders.

No state can appropriate the Moon under international law — expert Yevgeny Kuznetsov added that states and private operators can, however, create research and technological infrastructure on the Moon, conduct scientific and economic activitiesMOSCOW, September 7. /TASS/. Under current international law, the Moon cannot be appropriated by any state, space industry expert Yevgeny Kuznetsov has told TASS. "The Moon cannot belong to the United States, Russia, China, or any other country," said Kuznetsov, CEO of the venture fund management company Digital Evolution Ventures, created with the participation of Rosatom. "The Outer Space Treaty explicitly states that outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, use, occupation, or any other means. Therefore, establishing state sovereignty over the Moon or any part of it is impossible under current international law," he said, commenting on US President Donald Trump's post declaring "The Moon is ours." Kuznetsov went on to say that, states and private operators can, however, create research and technological infrastructure on the Moon, conduct scientific and economic activities, and retain rights to the equipment they deliver or build. "Ownership of a station, landing module, or other infrastructure does not create ownership of the area of the Moon on which that object is located. A state can also retain jurisdiction and control over a space object it has registered, but this jurisdiction does not extend to the surrounding lunar territory. This is a fundamental distinction," the expert explained. Kuznetsov noted that as activity on the Moon develops, the issue of delimiting the operating zones of various states and companies will become increasingly pressing. "In the coming decades, it will indeed be necessary to develop more detailed rules for the extraction and use of lunar resources, the placement of bases, ensuring security, and preventing conflicts between various missions. Temporary security zones around existing infrastructure should also not be transformed into territorial claims. All this is fundamentally different from declaring the Moon or part of it as national territory. Currently, there are no international legal grounds for such a declaration," he concluded. Parent body of Epsilon-Perseid meteor shower has still not been identifiedThe Epsilon-Perseid meteor shower is one of the fastest, but relatively weak, showersRead moreUS wants to work with Moscow, Kiev on ‘refreshed’ peace proposal — media"Things may move in a good direction if there's a follow-up by all parties involved," the source told Axios Read moreUkraine’s current generation considers war against everything Russian normal — expertAccording to Dudchak, this generation "has no history - the history that exists in our heads - and no historical memory."Read moreUS redirect 92 ships since resumption of naval blockade of Iran — CENTCOMThe United States resumed the naval blockade of Iran on July 14Read moreStates with anti-Russian sanctions taking part in EEF underscore its significance — envoyThese countries realize that it's impossible to imagine a world without Russia or the Arctic today, Deputy Prime Minister and plenipotentiary envoy in the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev saidRead moreOil prices could reach $120 amid escalation in Middle East waters — BloombergIf oil exports from the region return to normal, prices could fall to $80 per barrel, Daan Struyven, co-head of global commodities research at the bank, saidRead moreRussian forces tighten Ukrainian encirclement in Volchansk — security forcesOver the past week, more than 20 pieces of enemy equipment, including armored vehicles, have been destroyed during attempts to break through the encirclement, security officials addedRead moreNew trilateral meeting on Ukraine may be announced soon — WitkoffAccording to US presidential envoy, the US delegation is "dug in on finding the solution" and there are all "the ingredients" to find itRead morePantsir systems have shot down thousands of targets, including Storm Shadow, ATACMSThe El Alamein International Airshow 2026 will take place from September 8 to 10Read moreRussian fighters escort strategic US bomber over Pacific OceanThere were no violations of Russia's state border or dangerous proximity of planes in the air, the National Defense Command Center saidRead moreFirst round of talks with US envoys ends in KievAccording to Reuters, national security advisers to the British, French, and German leaders have arrived in Kiev to take part in the talksRead moreAfrica’s interest in Russian weapons growing every year — arms exporterRosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev stressed that African countries are traditional users of Soviet, and now Russian, military productsRead moreTrilateral meeting between leaders of Russia, US, China possible — Deputy Foreign MinisterThe trilateral format with the participation of the leaders of Russia, China and the United States has not been practiced so far, Sergey Ryabkov stated in an interview with TASSRead moreYemeni government forces take control over Hays in Hodeida province — TVAccording to the TV channel, the city has strategic importance for operations on the country’s western coast Read moreRussia’s state defense procurement unaffected by arms exports — RosoboronexportThe El Alamein International Airshow 2026 will take place at El Alamein International Airport in Egypt from September 8 to 10Read moreRussian air defense forces down 4 aerial bombs, 400 Ukrainian drones over past 24 hoursIn addition, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that units of the Ukrainian military lost approximately 1,315 military personnel in the special military operation zone over the past 24 hoursRead moreUkraine pays more than $4.8 billion to creditors since start of yearUkraine’s national debt continues to break recordsRead moreKushner refrains from saying is US will toughen pressure on RussiaAccording to US President’s son-in-law, Trump is looking at the Ukrainian conflict through the prism of the "idea of what the best outcome could be and what benefits all people"Read moreProcess of strengthening Russia must be continuous — PutinRussian President Vladimir Putin expressed his pre-election wishes at a meeting with the top five members of the United Russia election listRead morePrime ministers of Russia, DPRK open road bridge across Tumannaya River via video linkThe ceremony marking the completion of construction of the bridge on the border with the DPRK is taking place on MondayRead morePutin’s meeting with US negotiators lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes — Kremlin aideRussian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov noted that it was substantive, constructive, extremely frank and trustingRead moreRussia’s Yak-130M aircraft can meet needs of most African countries — arms exporter"The modernized Yak-130M combat trainer, which serves as a light combat aircraft, will be in high demand among delegations from the air forces of African countries," Alexander Mikheyev saidRead moreLatvia, Lithuania consider ending Russian grain transit through ports — agencyAccording to the news agency, the Latvian government will meet on Tuesday to discuss a full Russian ·grain export banRead moreRussian forces destroy more than 20 drones over Rostov Region — governorRegional governor Yury Slyusar added that the threat from drones in the region persistsRead moreRosneft to supply 30 million tons of oil from Vostok Oil in 2027Vostok Oil, Rosneft’s flagship project in the Taimyr Peninsula, is being developed on instructions from President Vladimir Putin Read moreRussia will not enter into agreements that fail to balance interests — LavrovThe Russian foreign minister noted that Russia has been cheated many times throughout its historyRead moreTrump supports renaming New Mexico to New AmericaAccording to the US Constitution, the federal government cannot change state namesRead moreTrump says he earns hundreds of billions of dollars from stocks for US, not for himselfThe US leader emphasized that Democrats are criticizing him for thisRead morePress review: Germany, France and UK boost missile ties as China challenges US in MideastTop stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 4thRead moreWitkof says parties to Ukraine conflict need to make compromisesThe US President's special envoy noted that Moscow and Kyiv need to narrow the differences between them in order to achieve a peaceful settlementRead moreRussia seeks sustainable peace in Ukraine conflict — Kremlin spokesmanAccording to Dmitry Peskov, The Ukraine process is currently on hold Read moreNorway deploys artillery battalion on border with Russia — ambassadorNorway has deployed an artillery battalion consisting of four K9 self-propelled howitzers manufactured by the Republic of Korea, with a firing range of up to 40 km, Nikolay Korchunov saidRead moreGermany accusing Russia without evidence in Leipzig UAV incident — expertNo concrete evidence of Russia's responsibility has been presented, military expert and editor-in-chief of the Italian portal Analisi Difesa, Gianandrea Gaiani, told TASSRead moreOther countries to join US in Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe navigation — officialTrade is important for the world and should not be the responsibility of the United States alone, said Energy Secretary Chris WrightRead moreRussians, Americans need to remember how much they got in common — former US congressmanIt's important for Americans who serve the public, members of Congress, to go to Russia and to meet the people, Dennis Kucinich saidRead moreAccusations regarding Leipzig UAV incident incite ‘real war’ — Russian foreign ministerStatements made by Merz about making Germany the leading military power in Europe again, they are being put into practice, Sergey Lavrov saidRead moreBSW says it shares common ground with AfD on issues related to Russia, sanctionsAccording to Thomas Schulze, like the AfD, the BSW advocates for "affordable energy"Read morePutin may meet Trump at APEC summit in China — Kremlin aideEach of the leaders plans to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Yuri Ushakov saidRead moreOPEC+ nations agree to keep production quotas for October at September levelAs follows from the OPEC table, Russia’s quota in October 2026 will stand at 9.949 mln barrels a dayRead moreUN welcomes any efforts toward talks between Russia, UkraineThus Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Farhan Haq commented on the visits by the US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and KievRead moreRussian forces strike two Ukrainian army’s logistics centers in Odessa RegionAccording to the ministry, Geran-4 Seeker drones have state-of-the-art electronic guidance system that makes it possible for the drone to independently adjust its trajectory before hitting a targetRead moreZelensky remarks leave no room for Western allies to claim not sponsoring terror — MFAAll of this is an absolute point of no return, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Read morePutin, Trump to continue maintaining personal contacts — Kremlin aideRussian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov pointed out that the work on behalf of US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will continueRead moreArmed man attempts to attack Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio — TVThe assailant rushed toward Amy Acton and injured several people at the eventRead moreUS envoys Witkoff, Kushner make stop in Poland’s Rzeszow en-route from Moscow to KievThe plane has landed at 1:31 a.m. local timeRead moreOdessa port nearly lifeless following Russian strikes — resistance memberRussian strikes targeted only dry cargo ships "used to transport dual-use goods, as well as fuel storage tanks intended for military purposes."Read moreNorth Korea commissions destroyer to become part of its nuclear response systemThe North Korean leader Kim Jong Un boarded the ship before its maiden voyageRead moreUK authorities intercept boat with 140 undocumented migrants in English Channel — TVAccording to the TV channel, the vessel was heading toward the coast of the English county of HampshireRead morePutin orders three-day suspension of strikes on Kiev starting at midnight — KremlinThe Ukrainian army would observe a ceasefire from midnight on September 5 through September 8Read morePutin notes at meeting with US negotiators that situation is difficult to discuss"And we will have to deal with it today", Russian President said in his opening remarks Read moreAfD to push for restoring ties with Russia after state election victorySanctions policy needs to change, Alternative for Germany co-chair Tino Chrupalla saidRead moreUS working on ‘peace package’ for Ukrainian settlement — KushnerMany people in the United States government, under the President, Vice President, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and many others, are working to try to create it, the American leader's son-in-law notedRead moreKiev loses nearly 9,700 troops in combat over past week — expertThe greatest damage on the enemy was inflicted by fighters of Russia’s Battlegroup Center, Andrey Marochko notedRead moreKushner describers meeting with Putin as ‘constructive and substantive’The American leader's son-in-law noted that "many ideas" were discussed with the Russian presidentRead moreMoscow mayor describes Dream Island park as Disneyland’s worthy rivalSobyanin noted that the newly opened outdoor section covers 200,000 square meters and thanked the president for his support of the projectRead moreIndia, China, South Korea interested in training sailors for Northern Sea Route"We have signed the relevant memorandum and expect to begin practical work within six months," Andrey Nikitin saidRead moreRussian woman swims across river to flee Myanmar scam centerTourist police officers took her to a local hospital, where she is receiving the necessary assistanceRead moreUkraine, US, Europe agree to hold another meeting soon — ZelenskyAccording to Zelensky, US special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have actually resumed the negotiating process after their meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and today’s talks in Kiev Read moreNorth Macedonia interested in energy cooperation with Russia — politicianMarjan Dimitriev emphasized that Macedonia needs stable energy supplies at a good priceRead moreIN BRIEF: Production, loading complex in Izmail, patrol boat hit in Russian strikesIn the port of Izmail, a production and loading complex was struck, which was used for unloading military cargo delivered to Kiev by Western countries from vesselsRead moreMedvedev fails to advance to US Open quarterfinalsRussian tennis player has reached the finals of Grand Slam tournaments six times, winning only the 2021 US OpenRead moreAfD winning parliamentary elections in Saxony-AnhaltThis is the best result the Alternative for Germany has ever achieved in a German state in its entire historyRead moreWitkoff, Kushner fly home after their trip to Kiev — airportThe special flight departed at 08:04Read moreUS negotiators tell Zelensky they want breakthrough in talks before winter — mediaAccording to the sources, Witkoff and Kushner discussed with Zelensky preparations for continuing the war through the winter Read moreDeath toll from shipwreck off northern coast of Cyprus up to 14There were 267 people on boardRead moreInternational Skating Union revokes neutral status of Kamila ValievaValieva was granted neutral status on August 7Read morePutin’s meeting with Witkoff, Kushner shows atmosphere of trust — Kremlin spokesmanKremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov made this statement in an interview with Pavel Zarubin of Vesti Read moreRosoboronexport’s order portfolio significantly exceeds $60 billion — company CEOThe El Alamein International Airshow 2026 will take place at El Alamein International Airport in Egypt from September 8 to 10Read moreWitkoff says ‘a lot of progress’ made at Moscow talks on UkraineNew ideas were heard, US presidential envoy said Read moreAlternative for Germany wins Saxony-Anhalt election with record 43.8%This is the AfD's best-ever result in any German state, doubling its share of the vote from the previous state election five years agoRead moreIranian forces strike US warships with ballistic missiles — IRGCAccording to the statement, the damaged US warships were forced to withdraw from the combat areaRead moreDry cargo ship carrying military equipment hit in port of ChernomorskA dry cargo ship carrying military equipment to the Ukrainian forces by Western countries was hit in the port of Chernomorsk in the Odessa RegionRead moreRosoboronexport supplies military products to over 20 countries in 2026The El Alamein International Airshow 2026 will take place at El Alamein International Airport in Egypt from September 8 to 10Read moreNorth Korea to reach another milestone in strengthening its navy in eight months — leaderKim Jong Un noted that a strong navy is capable of ensuring "the country’s self-reliance and the protection of its maritime sovereignty"Read moreWitkoff, Kushner arrive in Ukraine — media outletIt is not specified how long the US representatives will stay in the Ukrainian capitalRead moreRussian stocks down as main trading session opensThe MOEX and RTS indices lost 0.71% to 2,237.42 and 814.03 pointsRead moreAfD wins Saxony-Anhalt election — regional election commissionThis is the best result the AfD has ever achieved in a German state election, doubling its share of the vote compared to five years agoRead morePutin congratulates Lula on Independence Day highlighting importance of bilateral tiesThe Russian president noted that Russia-Brazil relations are mutually beneficial and continue to develop successfully across various platformsRead moreSouth Korea, US, Japan conducting Freedom Edge military drillsThe exercises are taking place in several areas and will also involve air forcesRead moreSemeru volcano erupts in Indonesia, ash rising to height of 4.7 kmSemeru is the fourth highest volcano in Indonesia (3,676 m above sea level) and the highest peak on the island of JavaRead morePutin notes Russian troops’ success in special mil-op during talks with US negotiatorsYury Ushakov said that the Russian side provided clear and comprehensive assessments of the situation regarding the special military operation’s developmentsRead moreRisk of large-scale conflict, NATO’s ‘confession’: SVR statementsSVR Director Sergey Naryshkin noted that NATO was interested in prolonging the Ukrainian conflict to limit Russia’s potentialRead moreFIFA confirms Infantino will run for another term as its president at 2027 electionsInfantino, 56, was elected FIFA president at a FIFA Extraordinary Congress in February 2016 and has been re-elected twice since thenRead moreZelensky says Ukraine’s major problems are coming winter, budget deficitAccording to Vladimir Zelensky, Ukraine, amongst other things, is facing a serious shortfall in funding for its defense industry, the army, and humanitarian causesRead moreTrump's approval rating falls to record low — Financial Times pollAccording to the study, only 33% of respondents supported Trump's current political course, compared to 35% a month earlierRead moreRelations between Russia, DPRK at unprecedentedly high level — Russian PMMikhail Mishustin noted that the states are actively cooperating across almost all areasRead moreAir defenses down 258 Ukrainian drones over Russia overnight — top brassFrom 8:00 p.m. Moscow time on September 5 to 8:00 a.m. Moscow time on September 6, on-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 258 Ukrainian fixed-wing dronesRead moreHouthis say they downed Saudi drone over Yemen"The Yemeni armed forces have shot down a Wing Loong II reconnaissance drone belonging to Saudi Arabia when it was on a hoistile mission," Houthi spokesman Yahya Saria saidRead moreWitkoff says settlement talks in Moscow, Kiev were positiveThe American leader's special envoy noted that his work, together with the US president's son-in-law Jared Kushner, is to "bring the parties together," narrow the gap in problematic positions, and establish communication channelsRead moreMOEX Index down 0.99% as morning trading session opensAs of 7:10 a.m. Moscow time the MOEX Index was down by 0.69% at 2,237.97 pointsRead moreJapan closely monitoring US talks with Russia, Ukraine — governmentChief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara pointed out that it is important for Ukraine, Europe, and other relevant countries to work together in unity for peace in UkraineRead moreRussia did not agree on broader three-day ceasefire — PutinRussian President noted that Russia had ceased attacks on Kiev for three days starting today, and the Ukrainian side had significantly reduced attacks on Russian territoryRead morePreliminary results of German elections humiliate Merz’s ruling party — DmitrievThe AfD's historic win humiliates the narrow-mindedness of the discredited German ruling coalition, Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev saidRead moreEx-Pentagon chief anticipates US-Iran standoff to continues for six months moreLeon Panetta noted that there are very few options available to bring this war to an endRead moreOne freshman and dangerous Arctic foxes: about Russian school on SpitsbergenThe school in Barentsburg operates in compliance with Russian educational standardsRead moreClosure of consulate in Bonn meant to derail preparations for elections — Russian diplomatAccording to Zakharova, the German authorities have long been hatching plans to close the Russian consulate general and the Russian HouseRead moreDaily oil transit via Strait of Hormuz amounts to around 9 mln barrels — US officialEnergy Secretary Chris Wright says the United States is "winning the battle" over the strait despite opposition from IranRead moreRosoboronexport signs contracts worth more than $13 billion in first half of year — CEO"This amount is equal to the figure for the entire year of 2025," Alexander Mikheyev saidRead moreBritish citizens clash with police in Portsmouth over arrival of migrants — newspaperOn September 6, illegal migrants were brought to Portsmouth from a vessel intercepted by UK authorities in the English ChannelRead morePress review: US may revive Russia-Ukraine talks as Dutch push on frozen assets growsTop stories from the Russian press on Monday, August 7thRead moreMerz admits that German government lacks supportFriedrich Merz also recalled that the previous German government had been "divided from within and run out of steam so quickly" that a change of power had become necessaryRead more

Source: TASS English
RELATED NEWS

More Stories

All News
Russia

Number of polling stations for Russians in the West down by more than 60 — Lavrov

• What happened: The number of polling stations for Russians abroad, particularly in Western countries, has decreased by more than 60 due to the closure of cons...

Russia

BRICS seeking mechanisms to reduce trade transaction costs — source

• What happened: BRICS is exploring mechanisms to reduce trade transaction costs to enhance cooperation and investment among member states ahead of its upcoming...

Russia

Communist Bondarenko Barred From Running in State Duma Elections

• What happened: Nikolai Bondarenko, a Communist Party candidate and popular YouTuber, has been barred from running in Russia's State Duma elections due to...

Russia

Russian stocks reverse losses, move into positive territory

• What happened: The Russian stock market rebounded during the main trading session, with the MOEX Index rising by 0.2% to 2,257.82 points and the RTS Index als...

Russia

Putin, Aliyev agree by telephone to intensify Moscow-Baku contacts

• What happened: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a telephone conversation where they discussed enhancing cooperatio...

Russia

India to arm Su-30MKI fighters with hypersonic Russian air-to-air missile – report

• What happened: India is considering arming its Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets with advanced Russian RVV BD hypersonic air-to-air missiles, capable of targeting thr...