Russia is speeding up the production of the Sputnik V

Russia is turning to several Chinese companies to speed up the production of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, for which demand is on the rise. Russia recently announced three agreements for 260 million doses with the Chinese company Hualan Biological Bacterin Inc., Shenzhen Yuanxin Gene tech Co. and Tibet Rhodiola Pharmaceutical Holding Co., according to AP. According to AP, this step could mean that vaccine doses will reach countries in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa that have ordered the Russian vaccine faster, while the United States and the European Union are focusing mainly on domestic vaccination needs. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that demand for Sputnik V far exceeded Russia's domestic production capacity. Russia's direct investment fund, which has funded vaccine development, has signed agreements with several drug manufacturers abroad, including India, South Korea, Turkey, Serbia and Italy. However, there are indications that foreign manufacturers, with the exception of those in Belarus and Kazakhstan, have not yet produced more vaccines. Experts question Russia's ability to fulfill its commitment to countries around the world. According to London-based analyst firm Airfinity, Russia has agreed to deliver about 630 million doses of Sputnik V to more than 100 countries, but has so far exported only 11.5 million. Russia "is very ambitious and unlikely to meet its targets," said Airfinity Chief Rasmus Bech Hansen. According to him, cooperation with China on the production of Sputnik V could be very beneficial for both countries. Despite slow delivery, Russia is thriving on vaccine diplomacy. "Russia has been able to build stronger diplomatic ties and in areas where it has not been able to do so before," said an analyst at the consulting firm Economist Intelligence Unit Imogen Page-Jarrett. "They have this opportunity, while the US, the EU and India are focusing on the domestic sector and the rest of the world is calling for vaccine supplies," she added.