Putin says Trump's 'inherent vitality' will dsicover him through COVID-19
Russian President Vladimir Putin wished Donald Trump a swift recovery on Friday after the U.S. president tested positive for COVID-19.
"I know that your inherent vitality, good spirits and optimism can help you cope with this dangerous virus," Putin wrote to Trump in a telegram, pledging his support during "this difficult time", in line with the Kremlin. Russia's ties with america remain strained over many issues, from arms control to the conflict in Syria, along with allegations of Russian interference in U.S. politics, something Moscow denies.
On social media, many Russians wished Trump well but others responded with derisive comments, or with jokes. Some took the possibility to highlight Russia's COVID-19 vaccine. "Let's treat him with the Russian vaccine and medication," wrote Alex Korolyov on the social media platform VK. "Then he'll be our Trump."
With a huge selection of potential vaccines in a variety of stages of development around the world, Russia was the first country to license its vaccine for public use and alongside China has been deploying the shots before full efficacy trials are complete. Sergei Vlasov, another VK user, wrote that Trump ought to be airlifted to Russia for treatment.
"We must urgently bring Trump to Moscow. We don't trust American medicine, his life there reaches risk," Vlasov wrote. One Twitter user said Trump should be flown to the same Siberian hospital where doctors treated Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in August. Navalny was poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent, according to German, French and Swedish laboratories. Moscow denies this and says it has yet to see proof poisoning.
Alexander Gintsburg, head of the institute that produced Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, told RIA news agency he expected america to take proper care of its president but said other U.S. officials should think about obtaining the Russian jab. "It could have already been good to vaccinate him," Gintsburg said of Trump.
