Russia is the first country in the world to launch a vaccine against Sars-CoV-2. President Putin is so convinced of the product that he promises UN employees that he will deliver it to them for free. The head of the Kremlin uses the virtual stage in New York for conciliatory words.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his country’s first vaccine against coronavirus at the United Nations. Russia is ready to vaccinate all UN employees with the vaccine for free, Putin said in a video speech that was shown at the General Assembly in New York. Putin stressed that Russia was the first country in the world to register a vaccine.
The Kremlin chief also proposed an online conference at the highest state level for countries interested in working together to develop a vaccine. “We are ready to share our experience and work with all states and international organizations in the development of corona vaccines.” The World Health Authority (WHO) must be strengthened.
He described the corona pandemic as a great challenge for humanity. Experts have yet to assess the full extent of the consequences of the crisis and the “socioeconomic shock.” “But it is already clear that it will take a long, long time to rebuild the global economy,” Putin said.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin
It is already clear that it will take a long, long time to rebuild the world economy.
(Photo: AP)
Agreement on the prohibition of weapons in space
At the beginning of his speech, the head of state praised the United Nations, founded 75 years ago after the Second World War, as a guarantor of compliance with international law. He once again warned against questioning the results of World War II and the Soviet Union’s victory over Hitler’s fascism. Putin also renewed his offer to the other four major nuclear powers – the United States, Britain, France and China – to speak at a summit about the global tasks of the future. Such a summit with a personal meeting of the permanent members of the UN Security Council could be scheduled immediately after the end of the pandemic, he said.
Facing the United States, the head of the Kremlin warned against arming the space. He again proposed a binding agreement on the other leading space travel nations banning weapons in space. And Putin recalled that the last major disarmament agreement between Russia and the United States would expire soon. The New Start treaty to limit strategic nuclear weapons ends on February 5, 2021. Russia and the US are talking about an extension of the agreement. However, Moscow has little hope that this can be successful with Washington under President Donald Trump.
