Canada has suspended "all planned bilateral activities" with the Russian military, following a similar move by the U.S. over Moscow's deployment of troops in Ukraine.
"I have this morning directed that, effective immediately, all planned bilateral activities between the Canadian Armed Forces and the military of the Russian Federation be suspended," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Tuesday in a statement posted on his website.
The canceled activities include Vigilant Eagle, a counterterrorism exercise involving the Russian Air Force and the North American Aerospace Defense Command of the U.S. and Canada, as well as all scheduled meetings.
"We continue to view the situation in Ukraine with the gravest concern and will continue to review our relations with President Putin's government accordingly," Harper said.
The Pentagon has "put on hold" all exercises and other programs between the U.S. and Russia "in light of recent events in Ukraine," Defense Department spokesman Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby said Monday.
The U.S. has also suspended trade talks with Moscow, and President Barack Obama said his administration was considering a "series" of further economic and diplomatic measures.
