MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. Presidents of Russia and Paraguay Vladimir Putin and Mario Abdo Benitez have had a phone call to discuss the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The Paraguayan leader thanked his Russian counterpart for the delivery of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Paraguay, the Kremlin reported Wednesday.

"The issues of cooperation in countering the spread of the coronavirus infection were discussed. Mario Abdo Benitez thanked [Putin] for the decision made to supply Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine to Paraguay," the statement reads.

It is noted that both sides "expressed readiness to provide every assistance to further development of the Russia-Paraguay relations in various spheres, particularly trade and economy." The phone call was initiated by the Paraguayan side, the Kremlin clarified.

In mid-January, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) reported that the Paraguayan Health Minstry authorized Sputnik V. The registration was issued under the emergency use authorization procedure without conducting additional clinical trials in the country. It was noted that the vaccine deliveries will be covered thanks to the RDIF’s international partners in India, China, South Korea and other states.