Vladimir Putin assured that Sputnik V shipments to Argentina were regularized

Natasha Niebieskikwiat

05/18/2021 10:03 AM

• Clarín.com

• Politics

Updated 05/18/2021 10:03 AM

President Vladimir Putin referred on Tuesday to his country's contracts with Argentina for the provision of the Sputnik V vaccine amid questions about delays in the arrival of doses.

The Russian president maintained that the supply was regularized.  

He also confirmed that the production of the Russian drug in Argentina is being discussed, which, according to the Government

, will be done with the Richmond laboratory, owned by businessman Marcelo Figueiras. 

Putin made these statements in the framework of the

collective ceremony in which he received the credentials of a group of foreign ambassadors,

among them the Argentine Eduardo Zuaín, former vice chancellor of Cristina Kirchner and a diplomat chosen for that position by the current vice president.

“Rhythmic supplies of the drug for vaccination of Argentine citizens have already been established.

The idea of ​​locating vaccine production in Argentine territory is being discussed, "said the Russian president, although without specifying the quantities that he will send and when.

He recalled that Argentina became the first country in Latin America to register the Russian Sputnik V vaccine and uses it widely.

Argentina bought Russia 20 million from Sputnik

, which has two application doses per person.

Official information indicates that so far 5,975,585 doses of the first application and 1,060,160 for the second have arrived, both components being different.

At different times, President Alberto Fernández - who hopes to travel to Moscow this year - spoke with Putin, with whom he has a privileged relationship.

In all those calls, he asked for shipments of Sputnik V, one of the best vaccines on the market, but with a low production amount.

And in addition, the outbreak of infections in India also made production difficult in other countries for export to Argentina, for example, as expected here at first.

The Indians now maintain a total export ban on their vaccines against Covid 19 to prioritize the vaccination of their population.

"We attach great importance to the strategic alliance with Argentina. We maintain good relations with President (Alberto) Fernández, we appreciate his commitment to effective mutual coordination in the political sphere, as well as to building ties in the economic field," said the President Putin in statements collected by this newspaper and reproduced by the Russian agency

Ria Novosti.

The ceremony for the reception of credentials to the ambassadors was most curious. Putin is kept protected from any physical contact, even from his own officials. No foreign diplomat could approach him and as Zuaín is seen in a video, they are all no less than 30 meters away.