OECD halts membership talks with Russia

PARIS (AP) — A grouping of the world’s most developed countries says it’s provisionally halting accession talks with Russia in a move many will see as a direct response to the country’s takeover of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which promotes good governance and economic policy initiatives among its 34 mainly rich world members, says it has “postponed activities related to the accession process” with Russia “for the time being.” No explanation for the decision was provided in the statement Thursday.