Russia will pull out of the International Space Station after 2024 and focus on building its own orbiting outpost, the country’s new space chief said, writes NPR.

Yuri Borisov, appointed this month to lead the state space agency, Roscosmos, said during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin that Russia will fulfill its obligations to its partners before it leaves.

“The decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made. I think that by that time we will start forming a Russian orbiting station”, - Borisov said.

His statement reaffirmed previous declarations by Russian space officials about Moscow’s intention to leave the space station after 2024 when the current international arrangements for its operation end.

NASA and other international partners hope to keep the space station running until 2030, while the Russians have been reluctant to make commitments beyond 2024. NASA had no immediate comment.