Russia could widen the breach in the EU that was opened by Hungary: Austria also began to negotiate with Moscow for the supply of the anti-Covid vaccine Sputnik V. The day after the drug's landing in San Marino, and despite the suspicions of Brussels.
With a European Commission still struggling with delays in delivering EMA-approved vaccines, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz moved independently and called Vladimir Putin.
The two leaders, the Kremlin reported, discussed "the possibility of Russia supplying Austria with the Sputnik V vaccine" and also to start a "joint production".
Brussels did not veto the Russian vaccine, but stressed that there are rules to be respected: submit all the data from the trial and undergo scrutiny like the others.
Among other things, since we do not produce in the EU, there must be an inspection of the sites, explained Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Clarifying, just a few days ago, that Sputnik has not yet applied for authorization to the European drug agency.
Sputnik V was the first certified Covid vaccine in the world, last August, months before the Americans Pzifer and Moderna and the British AstraZeneca.
And before the conclusion of the last phase of experimentation.
The green light in record time by the Russian authorities has fueled doubts about a propaganda initiative by Moscow, not based on scientific evidence, to increase its influence in the world through 'vaccine diplomacy'.
Which has brought Sputnik to over 35 countries, including Eastern Europe and San Marino.
A Chinese-style soft power campaign carried out by the Russians in a phase of maximum tension with the West after the Navalny case.
But now Sputnik has also gained credibility in the scientific community and the authoritative Lancet magazine has judged it to be 90% "effective and safe".