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Coronavirus pandemic

Austria’s talks with Russia on purchase of Sputnik V move into final stretch

At issue are 1 million doses of the preparation

© Kirill Kukhmar/TASS

VIENNA, March 31. /TASS/. Moscow and Vienna have entered into the final stretch of negotiations before Austria’s purchase of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said before meeting with Russia’s Ambassador to Vienna Dmitry Lyubinsky on Wednesday.

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"Intensive talks are behind and they have gone well. We are in the ‘final meters’ in regard to the purchase of Sputnik V," Kurz told reporters.

The Austrian Federal Chancellor’s Office said on Wednesday that Kurz and Lyubinsky would hold a working meeting on possible purchases of the Russian vaccine.

On March 30, the Austrian Federal Chancellor’s Office said that Vienna was in talks with Moscow about the purchase of one million doses of Sputnik V to vaccinate 500,000 people, which might be delivered in three tranches - in April, May and June 2021.

Austria and Russia inked a non-disclosure agreement that binds Austria to keep information secret when exchanging confidential documents and providing access to the information about the vaccine by the two countries’ health ministries.

In early March, Sebastian Kurz held a meeting with Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which is in charge of Sputnik V international production and deliveries. Dmitriev and Kurz focused on the use of Sputnik V vaccine in Austria, Russian Ambassador Dmitry Lyubinsky said at that time. Austria is keen to purchase Sputnik V and cooperate in its production, Kurz said then.

Austria launched a vaccination campaign in December 2020, using the Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines.

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US administration chooses to escalate Ukraine conflict — Kremlin

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US not seeking confrontation with Russia, but will continue assistance to Kiev — Pentagon

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

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Russia’s Oreshnik has no analogues worldwide — Putin

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China against double standards in international law — Foreign Ministry

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Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

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Russia's Oreshnik missile poses significant threat to West, Turkish expert warns

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Belarusian president believes humanity is on the brink of World War III

Alexander Lukashenko also emphasized that a real information war has been underway for a long time

Captives, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 150 people, while five Ukrainian servicemen surrendered

Russian forces cut off key Ukrainian supply route in Velikaya Novoselka, DPR

According to the security services, Ukrainian troops still have access to several unpaved roads, which are also under Russian fire control

Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

"No, there have been no notifications, for Russia has no such obligation with regard to intermediate-range missiles," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

Turning to the Labour Party’s domestic policies, Andrey Kelin said Starmer’s plans to spur the economy were "not met with applause by the population

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

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Zelensky fine with conflict continuing due to Western help — Slovak PM

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Chinese pandas sent back home after years in Finland

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North Korean leader warns of growing risk of nuclear war — KCNA

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China urges restraint after Russia, Ukraine's exchange of attacks — foreign ministry

Lin Jian also reaffirmed Beijing's position on the Ukrainian issue

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Western air defense systems unlikely to intercept Russian missiles — France’s Le Monde

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Russia’s reaction to Austrian OMV’s failure to pay for gas justified — MFA

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WIPO members adopt Riyadh Design Law Treaty

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Kremlin clarifies notification process for Oreshnik missile launch

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Tehran to launch new centrifuges in response to IAEA anti-Iran resolution — statement

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Bundeswehr prepares plan for Operation Germany in case of war with Russia — newspaper

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Lukashenko grants asylum to Schmidt persecuted on political grounds by Poland

The head of state also approved citizenship applications from foreign nationals and stateless persons residing in the country