Trump 'looking to save lives' on ventilator shipments abroad

Once short on ventilators but w awash with extras, United States has delivered 1,271 ventilators to seven countries, with latest shipment going to El Salvador.

A senior administration official said Tuesday that ventilators had been sold and delivered to Australia, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Ventilators were donated to South Africa and El Salvador.

official was t authorized to speak publicly on matter and spoke on condition of anymity. official said Trump administration has committed to providing more than 15,000 ventilators to more than 60 countries.

Russia is on that list. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday U.S. will send two planes with ventilators to Russia as a donation. According to Russian media, shipment will include 200 breathing machines, 50 of which may be dispatched to Moscow on Wednesday.

Russia had sent a planeload of medical supplies, including ventilators, to U.S. last month.

President Donald Trump was asked Tuesday if he sees ventilator shipments as a way to strengn ties with or countries.

“I'm looking to save lives," Trump said. “If we can save lives in ar country, that's a great thing. So, I'm only looking to save lives. Probably that's good diplomatically, but I'm t looking at that."

Trump said U.S. had “gotten some very unusual calls from people that would t rmally be calling us" asking for help with ventilators. He did t go into detail about specific countries that have requested machines.

State Department and U.S. ncy for International Development are providing assistance to some countries to pay for ventilators.

senior official said administration was balancing needs inside United States with requests from abroad to ensure that providing supplies to or nations “will in way impact American people."