Russian plane with coronavirus medical gear lands in U.S. after Trump-Putin call

By Andrew Osborn, Polina Devitt and Steve Holland

 

A Russian military transport plane carrying medical equipment, masks and supplies lands at JFK International Airport during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City, New York, U.S., April 1, 2020. REUTERS/Stefan Jeremiah

 

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia sent the United States medical equipment on Wednesday to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, a public relations coup for Russian President Vladimir Putin after he discussed the crisis with U.S. President Donald Trump.

 

Trump, struggling to fill shortages of ventilators and personal protective equipment, accepted Putin's offer in a phone call on Monday. A Russian military transport plane left an airfield outside Moscow and arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy airport in late afternoon on Wednesday.

 

Emergency aid to Washington was a striking development. Usually, the United States donates supplies to embattled countries rather than accepting them. The origin of the gift was bound to revive criticism from Democrats that Trump has been too cozy with the Russian leader.

 

"Trump gratefully accepted this humanitarian aid," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was cited as saying by the Interfax news agency on Tuesday. Trump himself spoke enthusiastically about the Russian help after his call with Putin.

 

A U.S. official in Washington confirmed the shipment was a direct result of Trump's phone conversation with Putin. The official said it carried 60 tons of ventilators, masks, respirators and other items.

 

The official said the equipment would be carefully examined to make sure it comports with the quality requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

 

Boxes with medical equipment and masks to help fight coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are seen on board a Russian military transport plane ahead of its departure to the United States of America, at an airdrome outside Moscow, Russia April 1, 2020, in this screen grab taken from video. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

 

Russia's Rossiya 24 channel on Wednesday morning showed the plane taking off from a military air base outside Moscow in darkness. Its cargo hold was filled with cardboard boxes and other packages.

 

Confirmed U.S. coronavirus cases have surged to more than 205,000, with 4,500 deaths.

 

In Russia, the official tally of confirmed cases is 2,337, with 17 deaths, although some doctors there have questioned the accuracy of official data.

 

STRAIN IN RELATIONS

Relations between Moscow and Washington have been strained in recent years by everything from Syria to Ukraine to U.S. election interference, something Russia denies. Trump spent two years battling a federal investigation into whether his 2016 campaign colluded with Russia.

 

"Nothing to see here. Just a Russian military aircraft landing at JFK with 60 tons of medical supplies to support America’s #COVID19 response. A propaganda bonanza as our own government shrinks from America’s leadership role in a global crisis," said Brett McGurk, a former American diplomat for Trump and former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

 

Trump said on Tuesday he and Putin discussed the virus at length. "Russia is being hit pretty hard," he said.

 

Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said Moscow hoped the United States might also be able to provide medical help to Russia if necessary when the time came.

 

"It is important to note that when offering assistance to U.S. colleagues, the president (Putin) assumes that when U.S. manufacturers of medical equipment and materials gain momentum, they will also be able to reciprocate if necessary," Peskov was cited as saying.

 

Peskov complained that some U.S. officials had made it needlessly difficult to expedite the aid. He also was quoted as saying that Russia and China cooperated in a similar way because "at a time when the current situation affects everyone without exception ... there is no alternative to working together in a spirit of partnership and mutual assistance."

 

Russia has also used its military to send planeloads of aid to Italy to combat the spread of the coronavirus, exposing the European Union's failure to provide swift help to a member in crisis and handing Putin a publicity coup at home and abroad.

 

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn and Polina Devitt in Moscow and Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Mary Milliken, David Gregorio and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-02

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

If it helps save lifes it's a good thing.  Nothing more needs to be said apart from "Thank you Russia".

Putin is a real stud for doing this.

Covid bringing the world together great to see, except N.Korea.

I wonder how the Russian people will respond to this once the virus starts massively spreading (if it isn't already) in their cities.

 

Before Trump the US played a leadership role in helping other countries in crisis.  Now Russia and China are the world leaders and the US is reduced to accepting handouts from Russia.  How does that fit in with MAGA?

1 hour ago, JimmyTheMook said:

Putin is a real stud for doing this.

He is above all a great chess master 

From Russia with Love.

10 minutes ago, heybruce said:

I wonder how the Russian people will respond to this once the virus starts massively spreading (if it isn't already) in their cities.

They may never be informed.

3 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

They may never be informed.

I think they will be informed in a very pro-Putin manner, but that won't fool everyone.

 

I also suspect the official Covid-19 numbers from Russia are fake.  Putin can suppress information about an epidemic for a while, but not indefinitely.  After that his "generosity" will come back to haunt him.

Just now, heybruce said:

After that his "generosity" will come back to haunt him.

Not even in dreams ..
On the one hand it gives,
on the other it takes 1000 times more.
See what's going on with the price of crumbling oil ...

4 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

I sometimes have the impression that brainwashing in the USA is very effective

Why, because we dont think like youse guys? Please dont join the crowd of moral preeners.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Emergency aid to Washington was a striking development. Usually, the United States donates supplies to embattled countries rather than accepting them.

But...but...he's making America great again!

 

????

59 minutes ago, heybruce said:

I wonder how the Russian people will respond to this once the virus starts massively spreading (if it isn't already) in their cities.

 

Before Trump the US played a leadership role in helping other countries in crisis.  Now Russia and China are the world leaders and the US is reduced to accepting handouts from Russia.  How does that fit in with MAGA?

 

Congratulations:  you are the first on this thread to turn an act of charity between two world powers into the small-mindedness of anti-Trump hysteria.

This is good news for a change. 

Perhaps the infamous Nattering Nabobs of Negativism will shut up for a few days? 

 

"Emergency aid to Washington was a striking development. Usually, the United States donates supplies to embattled countries rather than accepting them. The origin of the gift was bound to revive criticism from Democrats that Trump has been too cozy with the Russian leader."

 

Should this end up being the case , then any support I have for the Democrats would be greatly diminished.

What warped and selfish logic mixes 'prestige' in with giving and receiving in a time of need?

Some of these whingers are the first to complain that nobody ever helps 'helpful' America.

But perhaps this  statement is  just media again "poking the elephant" in their lust to create  more 'news' .

 

"Before Trump the US played a leadership role in helping other countries in crisis.  Now Russia and China are the world leaders and the US is reduced to accepting handouts from Russia."

You confuse unpreparedness with economic might.

Graciously accepting support in a crisis is a key part of diplomatic relations .

 Not doing so , for Your People , indicates a basket regime - aka  Myanmar and North Korea !

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

Better make sure the ventilators work before you issue them. Russian quality is at erm that exists in the same realm as Chinese truth. Three, two, one....count down to a Trumpsmarm comment shortly.

Sure to work better than ones  that  do not exist at all ?

28 minutes ago, blazes said:

 

Congratulations:  you are the first on this thread to turn an act of charity between two world powers into the small-mindedness of anti-Trump hysteria.

It's unfortunate that facts have an anti-Trump bias.

13 minutes ago, zaZa9 said:

"Emergency aid to Washington was a striking development. Usually, the United States donates supplies to embattled countries rather than accepting them. The origin of the gift was bound to revive criticism from Democrats that Trump has been too cozy with the Russian leader."

 

Should this end up being the case , then any support I have for the Democrats would be greatly diminished.

What warped and selfish logic mixes 'prestige' in with giving and receiving in a time of need?

Some of these whingers are the first to complain that nobody ever helps 'helpful' America.

But perhaps this  statement is  just media again "poking the elephant" in their lust to create  more 'news' .

 

"Before Trump the US played a leadership role in helping other countries in crisis.  Now Russia and China are the world leaders and the US is reduced to accepting handouts from Russia."

You confuse unpreparedness with economic might.

Graciously accepting support in a crisis is a key part of diplomatic relations .

 Not doing so , for Your People , indicates a basket regime - aka  Myanmar and North Korea !

Yes, but why were we unprepared? 

 

"For the United States, the answers are especially worrying because the government has intentionally rendered itself incapable. In 2018, the Trump administration fired the government’s entire pandemic response chain of command, including the White House management infrastructure."   https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/01/31/coronavirus-china-trump-united-states-public-health-emergency-response/

 

• "I'm a businessperson, I don't like having thousands of people around when you don't need them," Trump said. "When we need them, we can get them back very quickly."
• Experts noted that restoring funding to a government agency could be a cumbersome process, which requires an act from Congress that's signed into law.
• The White House has spent two years cutting the CDC's budget.   https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/medical/trump-defends-huge-cuts-to-the-cdcs-budget-by-saying-the-government-can-hire-more-doctors-when-we-need-them-during-crises/ar-BB10tLwS

34 minutes ago, blazes said:

Congratulations:  you are the first on this thread to turn an act of charity between two world powers into the small-mindedness of anti-Trump hysteria.

I did not see it anti Trump hysteria at all

I saw a rhetorical question, which can be pondered.

Perhaps the accpetance of an act of humanitarianism will increase accpetance of differences and greater dialogue across national borders.

 

17 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Sure to work better than ones  that  do not exist at all ?

It seems they have plenty, despite the whining.

34 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Nattering Nabobs of Negativism

that was such a great line, too bad it was coined by a numpty, albiet an interesting one.

3 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Yes, but why were we unprepared? 

 

"For the United States, the answers are especially worrying because the government has intentionally rendered itself incapable. In 2018, the Trump administration fired the government’s entire pandemic response chain of command, including the White House management infrastructure."   https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/01/31/coronavirus-china-trump-united-states-public-health-emergency-response/

 

• "I'm a businessperson, I don't like having thousands of people around when you don't need them," Trump said. "When we need them, we can get them back very quickly."
• Experts noted that restoring funding to a government agency could be a cumbersome process, which requires an act from Congress that's signed into law.
• The White House has spent two years cutting the CDC's budget.   https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/medical/trump-defends-huge-cuts-to-the-cdcs-budget-by-saying-the-government-can-hire-more-doctors-when-we-need-them-during-crises/ar-BB10tLwS

Its amazing how folks think  lies and spin will become true if they simply keep repeating it.

2 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

that was such a great line, too bad it was coined by a numpty, albiet an interesting one.

After Nixon's 1968 victory, Safire served as a speechwriter for him and for Spiro Agnew; he is well known for having created Agnew's famous term, "nattering nabobs of negativism.

1 minute ago, Nyezhov said:

Its amazing how folks think  lies and spin will become true if they simply keep repeating it.

Where were the incorrect or alternative facts in that post ?

 

2 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Its amazing how folks think  lies and spin will become true if they simply keep repeating it.

You think documented facts and direct quotes from Trump are "lies and spin".  That says it all.

Cooperation and sharing the only way forward

4 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

After Nixon's 1968 victory, Safire served as a speechwriter for him and for Spiro Agnew; he is well known for having created Agnew's famous term, "nattering nabobs of negativism.

Hey thanks, who do you think I was referring to? Safire was a major numpty, albiet cool in his own way. Spiro was just the cranky old Greek guy that made it famous.

5 minutes ago, heybruce said:

You think documented facts and direct quotes from Trump are "lies and spin".  That says it all.

Yes it does. I shows how folks beleive whatever the media and social  media spoon feed them, regardless of the truth, facts and context. But the American people will decide in November, and any more would be off topic. Because the topic is....RUSSIA

 

 

Big players don't do charity, they do propaganda.

 

This is a good move from Putin. It sends a clear message to the world "USA needs Russia's help to survive".

 

Nevertheless, it's a good thing that there is co-operation between Russia and USA during the times of distress.

 

I hope this will not hinder USA to take action, once Russia is going for military action towards Eastern Ukraine in the near future.

2 minutes ago, TheDark said:

Nevertheless, it's a good thing that there is co-operation between Russia and USA during the times of distress.

They need to cooperate against the common enemy, the Chinese. Ive been saying that since the murderous Soviet regime imploded.

 

2 minutes ago, TheDark said:

I hope this will not hinder USA to take action, once Russia is going for military action towards Eastern Ukraine in the near future.

I sooooo wish this was on topic!