The Netherlands has halted talks with Russia on closer cooperation between their armed forces ‘until further notice’, defence minister Jeanine Hennis said on Friday.

Contact has been halted pending a satisfactory solution to the situation in Ukraine, according to a statement on the defence ministry website.

This means talks with the Russian navy on a closer alliance have been stopped and Russian soldiers may no longer take part in specialised courses organised by the defence ministry, Nos television says.

Nor will Hennis attend the forthcoming international European security summit in Moscow. However, an exception will be made for remembrance ceremonies for World War II, the statement said.

Earlier this week, the cabinet said it was postponing a planned energy trade mission to Russia because of the situation in Ukraine.