President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that Kiev does not intend to use the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.

He explained this position by the fact that the effectiveness of this drug had allegedly not been proven.

He said this while talking with reporters at the Ukraine 30. Coronavirus: Challenges and Answers forum.

“There is no official information regarding the assertion that the Russian-made Sputnik V is guaranteed to give an effect of 90-91%, no.

There is no such confirmation either from WHO, or from experts from leading European, world ... I believe that the citizens of Ukraine are citizens, people, and for sure, excuse me for such a comparison, not rabbits.

And we have no right to experiment on them, ”Zelensky said.

The words of the Ukrainian president have already been commented on by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.

On her Facebook page, she accompanied Zelensky's phrase with a short caption: "They experiment less on rabbits."

During the forum, Zelenskiy was also asked whether Ukraine would consider using the Russian vaccine if approved in the EU.

To this, the Ukrainian leader replied that Russia must first ensure the vaccination of its population.

“They have about 140 million people, so before we offer it, we need to provide our population with a vaccine.

Then it's about treatment, then it's about vaccination, then it's not about politics, "Zelensky said.

At the same time, he positively assessed the very fact that Russia has its own vaccine.

“I believe that, unfortunately, Ukraine does not yet have its own vaccine, the Russians have it - this is positive for their population,” the head of state noted.

Zelensky also said that Kiev has managed to stabilize the situation with the coronavirus.

Now, he noted, the country's leadership is faced with the task of vaccinating "at least half of the population during 2021 and early 2022."

The President said that vaccines from four companies will arrive in Ukraine.

“We have agreed on the supply of vaccines to Ukraine from the companies Pfizer, Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Novavax.

The first round of vaccinations will begin this month.

Our doctors, military men and national guardsmen will be the first to receive the vaccine, ”Interfax-Ukraine quotes Zelensky as saying.

Recall that the forum "Ukraine 30. Coronavirus: Challenges and Answers" Zelensky announced at the beginning of the month.

  • At the forum "Ukraine 30. Coronavirus: Challenges and Answers"

  • © president.gov.ua

The event's website says that the purpose of its holding is to establish an "inclusive dialogue between the authorities and society to combat the pandemic", to provide Ukrainians with access to "correct information about vaccination", to counter "disinformation and fakes", as well as to demonstrate the level of "readiness of the authorities to overcome pandemics ".

The first meeting, which took place today, was attended by Vladimir Zelensky himself.

The remaining forums will include Prime Minister Denis Shmygal, Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba and other members of the Ukrainian Cabinet.

In addition, the event will be attended by experts, business representatives, regional authorities.

The participation of foreign guests was also announced, in particular, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, addressed the forum participants with a video message.

Zelensky's contradictions

Experts note that there are many contradictions in the statements of the Ukrainian leader about the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.

So, Zelensky said that the effectiveness of the vaccine had allegedly not been proven.

However, in early February, the authoritative scientific journal The Lancet published the results of the third phase of clinical trials of Sputnik V, which confirmed the high efficacy and safety of this vaccine. 

According to published data, the vaccine is 91.6% effective.

Moreover, in 100% of cases, it prevents the disease with severe forms of the disease.

According to research results, the Russian vaccine was among the three most effective drugs.

The publication was well received in the world.

Thus, the chief infectious disease specialist of the United States Anthony Fauci called the news about the effectiveness of "Sputnik V" wonderful. 

Meanwhile, Hungary, an EU member state, has already approved the use of Sputnik V.

In total, the Russian drug is registered in 21 countries.

In addition, the effectiveness of the Sinovac, AstraZeneсa and Novavax vaccines, which Kiev will purchase, is much lower than that of Sputnik V.

Political scientists also drew attention to Zelensky's words that Russia should first vaccinate its population, and then supply drugs abroad.

Analysts recalled that Moscow offered to produce Sputnik V under license on the territory of Ukraine, and not import it from Russia.

In December 2020, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the Gamaleya Center, in which the vaccine was created, made a corresponding proposal.

The fund noted then that the Kharkov plant "Biolek" has the necessary technological capabilities for this.

At the end of December, Biolek submitted an application for state registration of Sputnik V to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the State Expert Center of the Ministry of Health, but did not receive a positive response.

"Kiev hit a dead end"

As the RT source in the Batkivshchyna party notes, despite the statements of official Kiev about the lack of data on the effectiveness of Sputnik V, there is a great demand for this vaccine among wealthy Ukrainians.

“The fact that the vaccine is safe is evidenced by the fact that in Russia Sputnik V is bought by Ukrainian officials and businessmen for themselves and their families.

People of this level would not use an untested drug, so Ukraine's reluctance to buy Russian vaccine is a political decision.

And it seems to me that it is stupid.

In this situation, for the good of your own people, you could go to negotiations, "says the interlocutor of RT.

Experts interviewed by RT also believe that Zelensky's refusal to use the Russian vaccine is a political decision.

  • Sputnik V vaccine

  • Reuters

  • © Fedja Grulovic

“It is quite obvious that there is no talk of medicine, safety and protection of Ukrainians from the coronavirus.

Zelenskiy wants to show the political position of Ukraine, according to which it is impossible to buy vaccines from Russia, because Moscow is allegedly an "aggressor".

At the same time, Kiev is using this issue to demonstrate its readiness to buy vaccines in the West.

This is purely a geopolitical moment, "RANEPA teacher Sergei Margulis said in a commentary on RT.

According to analysts, this position of Kiev led to the fact that Ukraine was completely left without a vaccine, since they do not want to use the Russian Sputnik V, and the West is not ready to supply them with its drugs, since the priority for it remains the vaccination of its own citizens.

At the same time, the deplorable state of science and medicine does not allow Ukraine to create its own drug.

“Kiev is at a dead end.

It is clear that the West will supply the vaccine to Ukraine for money, but it will deliver it last, and people die every day.

But they cannot agree to a Russian vaccine, because it destroys all myths about Russia.

Therefore, the elite have already been vaccinated, the elite have protected themselves, and they tell the population tales about the ineffectiveness of the vaccine.

This is a betrayal of the Ukrainian people.

Kiev's logic is this: it is better to die than to be saved with the help of Russian medicine.

This is the apotheosis of nationalism and Russophobia, ”Andrei Suzdaltsev, deputy dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at the Higher School of Economics, said in an interview with RT.

Experts commented on the forum “Ukraine 30. Coronavirus: Challenges and Answers”.

According to them, this event is necessary to increase Zelensky's rating, which, according to a study by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology conducted in January, dropped to 19.8% among those who made their choice.

“This is PR.

The country has a difficult economic situation, utility rates are increasing, the pandemic is not receding, there is no vaccine.

Against this background, Zelensky's rating dropped below 20% for the first time.

In these conditions, he wants to show that he is with the people and is ready to solve the problems of society, to listen to the opinions of people, ”said Sergei Margulis.

A similar point of view is shared by a RT source in the European Solidarity party.

“I think this is an attempt to save my falling rating.

But every month the number of claims against the activities of the head of state and government is increasing.

On all important issues in Ukraine - a complete failure.

Against this background, Zelensky is taking steps that even his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, did not dare to take.

For example, he closed three opposition TV channels, ”the source said to RT.

At the same time, Sergei Margulis questioned the effectiveness of such PR projects as the forum "Ukraine 30. Coronavirus: Challenges and Responses."

“It will be extremely difficult for Zelensky to leave on populism alone.

Because the Ukrainian society does not believe him.

It is no coincidence against this background that we see the growth in popularity, for example, of the Opposition Platform - For Life and other parties advocating an alternative course, which orient their programs not towards geopolitics and beautiful slogans, but towards solving real problems of society, "the analyst concluded. ...