Russian AN-124 have stopped hauling NATO gear...

H/T to Alert 5

via Kommersant.RU

According to the French media, the Russian group of companies (GC) Volga-Dnepr has announced to Western partners that from January 1 next year it will no longer provide NATO services for oversized air transport on An-124-100 transport aircraft Ruslan. According to Kommersant, Volga-Dnepr does not really intend to extend the corresponding contract with the French party for 2019 - because of the sanctions policy of Western countries against a number of Russian companies.

"Putin cuts off the wings of the French Air Force" - this begins the material of the French edition of Challenges, which, citing its own sources, says: the Russian GC "Volga-Dnepr" informed NATO that after 2018 it will not provide AN-124 transport aircraft to the alliance countries -100. Instead, the company intends to focus on civilian transportation. The same information with reference to a letter sent by the Russian side to the members of the managing board of the SALIS program (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution) on April 12, is also reported by Ouest-France . As noted in Challenges, such a decision will increase the cost and significantly complicate the logistics of French military operations abroad.

Story here. 

Considering sanctions that the US and its European allies have slapped on Russia this is not only expected but the question can be asked what took them so long to put this into place.

My guess.

They still held out hope that relations could improve but have come to the realization that it won't happen under current leadership.

Pity.

This was a nice symbiotic relationship and yielded benefits to all involved.