Published 20:37 IST, February 5th 2021
Borrell hopes Russia's Sputnik V vaccine will be certified in European Union
EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrel, on February 5, expressed hopes that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Russia will soon be used across the 27-nation bloc.
Advertisement
EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrel, on February 5, expressed hopes that COVID-19 vaccine developed by Russia will soon be used across 27-nation bloc. His remarks came as he dressed press reporters in Moscow saying that Sputnik V vaccine was a “good news for whole mankind." Borell is currently on a two-day visit to Russia, a diplomatic move which Russia believes could redeem ir “frozen” relationship.
Advertisement
“I take to floor just to congratulate Russia for this success, and it’s good news for whole of mankind because it means that we are going to have more tools to face pandemic. I am very happy to re scientific report published in prestigious scientific magazine Lancet and w I am hoping that European Medical ncy will be able to certify efficiency of vaccine in order to be used also in European states,” Borrell said, ding that this would be good news for Europe given short of vaccine doses it saw.
Sputnik V was given approval by Russian health ministry in August last year and has been used in multiple nations for mass iculations. Sputnik is based on a modified version of evirus, a common cold virus. vector stripped of its disease-causing genes and modified to carry genetic instructions for making coronavirus spike protein. This prompts cells to cause an immune response which eventually protects against SARS-CoV-2.
Advertisement
Borrell jets to Moscow
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell jet to Moscow on February 4 amid jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and crackdown against protesters. According to Moscow Times, Borrell’s visit marks first to Russia by a tip EU envoy since 2017. His trip, however, has drawn criticism from some European capitals worried Moscow will spin it as evidence Brussels is keen to return to business as rmal.
Advertisement
But Borrell has insisted that he will deliver “clear mess” to Kremlin despite it blanking Western calls to release Russian President Vlimir Putin’s domestic opponent Navalny, who was on Tuesday given a jail term of almost three years. Apart from Navalny’s detention, top EU envoy will also be discussing cooperation on issues including enlisting Russia’s help in reviving Iran nuclear deal and tackling climate change. Russia, on or hand, also hopes that relation with 27-bloc nation could become warmer following Borrell’s visit.
Advertisement
20:37 IST, February 5th 2021