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Coronavirus pandemic

Russian diplomat blasts Germany’s claims of Moscow politicizing vaccine deliveries

"There are countries that accepted the Russian vaccine as aid, and there are countries that purchase and produce the Russian vaccine," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted

MOSCOW, July 14. /TASS/. The statements by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas claiming that Russia politicizes vaccine deliveries are aimed to push out Sputnik V through unfair means of competition, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Wednesday on her Telegram channel.

Zakharova asked Germany to provide a list of countries, who "suffered" from this policy to back Maas’ statement. "We have no information about these countries. There are countries that accepted the Russian vaccine as aid, and there are countries that purchase and produce the Russian vaccine," she said. "There are no countries, who suffered from the Russian vaccine or from political demands allegedly tied to it. There is no doubt that "ensuring alternative options," according to Maas, aims to push out Sputnik V through means of unfair competition."

Earlier on Wednesday, Maas stated that Russia and China allegedly used vaccine deliveries to put forward a number of political demands to certain states, adding that "alternative options" should be ensured for the affected states.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned this statement, adding that the promotion of Russian vaccines abroad is often met with a politicized approach.

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Foreign policy Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova

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