MOSCOW, May 21. /TASS/. The second shipment of US-manufactured ventilators will be delivered to Russia next week, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters Thursday.

"Today, a special American flight with ventilators onboard arrives in Moscow," she said. "The Pirogov [National Medical and Surgical] Center will receive the 50 ventilators we are getting today as well as the expected shipment arriving next week. Its specialists will make a decision on how to further allocate the American equipment across Russian medical facilities considering the sanitary and epidemiological situation and depending on where they are most needed."

According to her, highest level talks between Russia and the US discussed countering coronavirus on a number of occasions particularly through joining efforts of the two countries. "As a result, first Russia sent a jet to New York with a shipment of Russia-manufactured equipment and materials in a difficult epidemiological period," Zakharova recalled. "Now, when the US ramped up ventilator producing capabilities, Washington had a chance to support Russia’s efforts to fight the pandemic, which was proposed, agreed and is being implemented now."

"Both cases are examples of sincere humanitarian gestures and voluntary assistance," the spokeswoman noted. "The Russian and US sides fully covered the deliveries. Additional information on this issue can be found on the Russian Direct Investment Fund website.