U.S. paying Russia for entire planeload of coronavirus equipment - U.S. official

[webfact]

U.S. paying Russia for entire planeload of coronavirus equipment - U.S. official

By Steve Holland

 

FILE PHOTO: 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

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is paying Russia for a planeload of medical equipment sent by Moscow to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, a senior Trump administration official said on Thursday, clearing up confusion as to who footed the bill.

 

It had been unclear whether Russia had sent the 60 tons of equipment as a gift or whether it had sold the shipment of ventilators, masks, respirators and other items following a phone discussion between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

Trump, asked about the shipment at a White House news briefing, said he was happy to take delivery of it.

 

"I am not concerned about Russian propaganda, not even a little bit. He (Putin) offered a lot of medical, high-quality stuff that I accepted. And that may save a lot of lives. I'll take it every day," he said.

 

Click https://tmsnrt.rs/2w7hX9T in a separate browser for a GRAPHIC tracking coronavirus cases in the United States and https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 for global cases.

 

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow had paid half the cost with the other half picked up by Washington.

 

But the senior administration official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the United States paid.

 

"The United States is purchasing the supplies and equipment outright, as with deliveries from other countries," the official said. "We appreciate Russia selling these items to us below market value."

 

The official did not give an exact cost. The State Department did not respond to requests for more information.

 

The plane arrived on Wednesday at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and the gear was to be inspected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make sure it met U.S. quality standards.

 

New York is at the center of the pandemic in the United States, struggling to treat or bury casualties and the state's governor has grimly predicted that the rest of the country would soon face the same misery.

 

Critics of Putin were angered by the shipment because they said Russia was experiencing severe shortages of the same items. Putin, with the country reporting 3,548 coronavirus cases and 30 deaths, on Thursday extended until April 30 a paid non-working period across Russia to reduce personal contact just a week after the Kremlin said there was no epidemic.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland; additional reporting by David Brunnstrom and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Dan Grebler and Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-03

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[Tug]

Thanks putin 

[baansgr]

Who really cares, its a worldwide disaster, would hope the US or any other country would offer assistance, paid for or not...time for politics and vote grabbing to be put aside by all.

[JimmyTheMook]

Putin in deeper and deeper.

[El Guapo]

Yea. The US is probably one of the few sucker countries that just gives stuff away!

[Bluespunk]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The United States is purchasing the supplies and equipment outright, as with deliveries from other countries," the official said. "We appreciate Russia selling these items to us below market value.

So, if the cost was 50% of what it should be, the Russians claim to be paying half could well be true. 

[englishoak]

Well done both nations leaders...in common cause,  nothing more need be said... 

[Galomir]

16 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

So, if the cost was 50% of what it should be, the Russians claim to be paying half could well be true. 

 

They are both right. US just tries to manipulate the publics perception. They paid the whole bill... Which was 50% off ????

[opalred]

why is usa  short of medical equipment/ masks/ ventilators/ testing kits

make putin look a good guy/ trump said he has 165000 specialist masks/a Australian mining magnate 

has brought plane loads of medical equipment into oz free/ including over a million medical masks from china /

oz has been testing more people than usa past weeks

wake up the reality show is over

[Pedrogaz]

Well done Putin, I hope you gouged Trump on the price and sent him shoddy goods. Actually you should have refused to supply because of the sanctions.

[bristolboy]

4 hours ago, Galomir said:

They are both right. US just tries to manipulate the publics perception. They paid the whole bill... Which was 50% off ????

If what the Russians were claiming it true. Considering that they already lied about it being entirely a donation, why would you credit their claim now?

[TheFishman1]

Very difficult in these times to know what is the truth or what is a lie

[puipuitom]

8 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

How shameful, buying supplies from the commies. Next thing you know, they will be begging the commie Chinese to sell them supplies as well...lol. Trump...MAGA lol

That's why US$ 500 BILLION of goods flow from "commie Chinese" to the US a year.

 

Time we all learn how small the world is now ( especially with presidents, who do not have the slightest idea, only a big mouth) , no space for military activities anymore...

[puipuitom]

4 hours ago, opalred said:

a) why is usa  short of medical equipment/ masks/ ventilators/ testing kits

b) make putin look a good guy/

c) trump said he has 165.000 specialist masks/

d) an Australian mining magnate has brought plane loads of medical equipment into oz free/ including over a million medical masks from china /

e) oz has been testing more people than usa past weeks

f) wake up the reality show is over

a) Because the USA is just as stupid as nearly the entire rest of the world: wait, till disaster runs over your footsteps, and THEN start with (some) action.

b) At least ONE leader of a wold state, who is showing to use his brains

c) How many medical specialist will use this up,in one week ?Not enough for New York alone. Chinese produced 35 m/wh, now 233 MILLION a WEEK, increasing towards 300 MILLION a week end of March. The rest of the world... fell asleep, and stays asleep. (The French hope to reach soon 10 M/wk = every 6 weeks a new one for every French)

d) A lot wiser as all gov. buyers together ( especially when I compare it to the Dutch idiots. Still looking around in NW Europe... already sold out 2 months ago.

Van: Middelen Corona <[email protected]>  ( National Dutch Consortium Medical Supplies)
Verzonden: woensdag 1 april 2020 10:50

"At this moment, our priorities focus on speed and short-term availability (days). This means we are primarily looking for physical and personally verifiable supplies that are currently located within Northwestern Europe. If you have such supplies, please share the specifications with us as soon as possible. 

Supplies from regions further away (including China) or supplies that have yet to be produced are our second priority due to existing contacts from our networks and suppliers."

e) the difference between brains and big mouth

f) only when the 10 biggest idiots per state/country are publically executed.

[puipuitom]

2 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Well done Putin, I hope you gouged Trump on the price and sent him shoddy goods. Actually you should have refused to supply because of the sanctions.

The difference between a responsable world leader and an idiot.

[Logosone]

Let's hope if Russia needs these supplies herself later on other nations will be as charitable as Russia was here.

Edited April 3, 2020 by Logosone

[rosst]

10 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

How shameful, buying supplies from the commies. Next thing you know, they will be begging the commie Chinese to sell them supplies as well...lol. Trump...MAGA lol

Not sure what you are trying to say but looking after the welfare of Americans sounds good to me 

[Lokie]

Wow? basically a good news item - lives will be saved directly becuase of this shipment...

 

All the neg comments on whatever?? Who gives a Rats Ar $ e who paid or where from ???

 

And just, just maybe... Vlad has not forgot back in 2000 when the Kursk went down with all hands in the Barents Sea offers of help from the West (Sweden, Norway, UK & US) was sent within 24hrs (albeit the Russains at the time said they had it covered) Had they accepted at the time some of them poor submariners may have been saved

 

Some of you need to get with the programme here, people are dying through lack of equipment worlwide

Edited April 3, 2020 by Lokie

[bristolboy]

1 hour ago, Logosone said:

Let's hope if Russia needs these supplies herself later on other nations will be as charitable as Russia was here.

Which was possibly not at all?

[Logosone]

If Putin paid half and the US paid half it's still a humanitarian gesture. The Russians don't have to supply these rare

supplies to other countries. Even selling them full price is generous in these times. Given that the US has sanctions on Russia.

[Dumbastheycome]

11 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

How shameful, buying supplies from the commies. Next thing you know, they will be begging the commie Chinese to sell them supplies as well...lol. Trump...MAGA lol

You  can be sure there  are "things" on the way ...many " Things" ... great things  from " many other places".

 

[OneMoreFarang]

11 hours ago, baansgr said:

Who really cares, its a worldwide disaster, would hope the US or any other country would offer assistance, paid for or not...time for politics and vote grabbing to be put aside by all.

It shows the character of some leaders like never before.

Just look at one of those Trump press conferences...

[atyclb]

4 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Well done Putin, I hope you gouged Trump on the price and sent him shoddy goods. Actually you should have refused to supply because of the sanctions.

 

 

your hope or wish that putin sent "shoddy goods" actually translates to serious risk /danger for health care personnel and patients in the united states. = illness and/or death when dealing with covid 19

 

there's a good song by john lennon you may want to listen to. "how do you sleep at night"

Edited April 3, 2020 by atyclb

[bristolboy]

53 minutes ago, Logosone said:

If Putin paid half and the US paid half it's still a humanitarian gesture. The Russians don't have to supply these rare

supplies to other countries. Even selling them full price is generous in these times. Given that the US has sanctions on Russia.

Why would you believe what the Russians say on this score"? They have already lied about it. And what you construe as generosity is more likely Putin trying to score propaganda points. And don't you think it strange that Trump didn't correct Russian false claims that it was a gift? What is there about the Russians that makes Donald Trump, usually so quick to fly off the handle, be so gentle in his conduct towards them?

[Logosone]

Obviously he likes Putin. 

 

It's a bit strong to say they "lied", a website gave a statement that it was aid. The Russians no doubt see it as that, many others would too. Regardless of whether Trump paid half or even all.

 

Trump, as he said is not concerned about propaganda. Neither are most people now. If a country helps another that's a good thing. You can overthink things and see an ulterior motive when there isn't one.

 

 

[bristolboy]

5 minutes ago, Logosone said:

Obviously he likes Putin. 

 

Trump, as he said is not concerned about propaganda. Neither are most people now. If a country helps another that's a good thing. You can overthink things and see an ulterior motive when there isn't one.

 

 

Yeah, sure. Trump says a lot of things. Often self contradictory. If you look at his behavior, though, it doesn't usually jibe with that protestation, does it? Except when it comes to Putin and Russia. 

Edited April 3, 2020 by bristolboy

[bristolboy]

6 minutes ago, Logosone said:

Obviously he likes Putin. 

 

It's a bit strong to say they "lied", a website gave a statement that it was aid. The Russians no doubt see it as that, many others would too. Regardless of whether Trump paid half or even all.

Since when does one nation giving another nation "aid" not mean a gift?

As for "Obviously he likes Putin." Because what is there not to like?

[Logosone]

It's still aid if they fly in a plane of much needed medical supplies.

 

Even if the very rich US, by all accounts Trump agreed voluntarily, pay part or all of the bill. They didn't have the supplies, Russia flew them in. It's aid.

 

Why shouldn't the US pay? If you or I get aid from the coast guard we have to pay.

 

Yes, fair enough Trump is aware of presentation, but obviously he has more important things on his mind right now.

 

Hey, they get on well, Putin and Trump, that's a good thing for the world. 

 

It's a plane full of medical aid. You really want to see black lining to this cloud?

 

Edited April 3, 2020 by Logosone

[AgMech Cowboy]

9 hours ago, opalred said:

why is usa  short of medical equipment

The Obama administration fail to replenish N-95 mask inventories after the H1N1 outbreak in 2009.

[bristolboy]

12 minutes ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

The Obama administration fail to replenish N-95 mask inventories after the H1N1 outbreak in 2009.

And what stopped the Trump administration from remedying that deficiency? But what the Obama administration didn't do is try and diminish the public health services upon which defense against pandemics rests. Unlike the Trump administration.