Austria holds talks with Russia on possible purchase of Russian Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine or co-operation in its production if certified by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Austrian Chancellor said today Sebastian Kurtz.
“As for the Russian Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine, we are in contact. I spoke by phone with Vladimir Putin. After this conversation we have constant contacts with the Russian Ambassador (in Vienna Dmitry Lubinski) as well as with the companies that produce it in Russia. These are two issues. Firstly for the possible purchase of the vaccine in case it is approved by Coreper. “Secondly, for the potential cooperation in the field of its production”, the Austrian Chancellor told the journalists in Vienna.
On March 1, Lubinski announced that he had visited the chancellery to discuss issues related to the possible supply of the vaccine and cooperation with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) for the production of the Russian vaccine in Austria, as well as the issue of its certification by the the EMA. On February 26, Kurtz and Putin discussed the supply of the Russian vaccine from Austria after its approval by Coreper, as well as the possibilities of its joint production.
