The German Minister of Health announced that his country will start talks with Russia to buy the Sputnik-V vaccine against the Covid-19 virus if the European regulatory authority approves its use.
“I explained in the name of Germany to the Council of Health Ministers of the European Union that we will hold bilateral talks with Russia, first to find out when and what quantities can be delivered,” Minister Jens Young said on Thursday to local radio, reported by Indian Economic Times .
He justified his decision by saying that the European Commission announced that it would not negotiate on behalf of the 27 countries to purchase the “Sputnik V” vaccine, unlike what it did with other vaccines.
And the issue of using the Sputnik vaccine raises controversy in Europe. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian accused Russia recently of using vaccines as a tool of “propaganda”.
“The (Russian) deliveries are supposed to take place within two to four or five months to make a real change in our current situation,” said Jens Young, who is facing criticism over the slow pace of the vaccination campaign.
“If this is not done, we will have more than enough vaccines in one way or another,” he added.
Due to the inability to produce enough of it and a desire to devote its production to the Russian people first, Moscow has so far shipped only small quantities of its vaccine abroad.
