Putin Says Arctic Shipping Route Could Be Navigable Year-Round by 2024

What’s new: Year-round navigation along the entire Northern Sea Route (NSR), a 3,500-mile shipping route in Russia’s Arctic economic zone, will be possible “as soon as next year,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the forum on Wednesday, Putin said Russia welcomed interested countries to “get directly involved” in the development of the route, adding that Moscow will provide icebreaker escort, communications and supplies.