Alex Christoforou
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the decision by Russia to send Italy much-needed aid to help the country battle against the deadly coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 5,400 people.
The Russian Defense Ministry said four military planes carrying virologists, epidemiologists, medical equipment and supply of pharmaceuticals will arrive at the Pratica di Mare Air Base some 30 kilometers southwest of the capital Rome.
EU leaders have restricted exports of critical medical supplies to Italy as they prepare their own health-care systems for an onslaught of COVID-19 infections. Meanwhile German Chancellor Angela Merkel has gone into self-quarantine.
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The Russian army on Sunday began flying medical help to Italy to help it battle the new coronavirus after receiving an order from President Vladimir Putin, a goodwill gesture that Moscow labeled “From Russia with Love.”
Giant Il-76 military planes began taking off from an airbase in the Moscow region after Putin spoke to Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday and agreements were later reached between respective defense ministers.
The Kremlin said Putin had expressed his support for Italy’s leaders and people in the extremely difficult situation they were facing and had heeded an Italian request for help.
Italy recorded almost 800 deaths from the coronavirus on Saturday, taking the toll in the world’s hardest-hit country to almost 5,000, out of over 53,000 reported infections.
“Giuseppe Conte expressed his sincere gratitude for the steps Russia is taking to support Italy at such a tough time for it,” the Kremlin said.
Moscow has tried to cultivate close ties with NATO and European Union member Italy in recent years. It asked Rome to help persuade the EU to lift sanctions imposed over Russia’s annexation of Ukraine from Crimea in 2014 – although those sanctions remain in place.
China, the origin of the outbreak, has also sent medical supplies to Italy, amid complaints from eurosceptic far-right leader Matteo Salvini that the European Union was failing in its duty of solidarity.
‘FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE’
TV footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry showed a column of at least seven military vehicles, including large trucks, waiting to be loaded onto planes.
The planes and trucks bore giant stickers showing heart-shaped Russian and Italian flags next to one another with the slogan ‘From Russia with Love’ in both Russian and Italian.
At least three planes took off on Sunday afternoon. The Ministry said they were bound for the Pratica di Mare military airbase, 30 km (19 miles) southwest of Rome.
The Kremlin said Russia was sending truck-based units capable of disinfecting vehicles, buildings and public spaces, as well as medical specialists and equipment, including testing devices, to the worst-hit Italian regions.
The team included some of Russia’s leading medical military specialists, who had first-hand experience of fighting outbreaks of African swine fever and anthrax and of developing vaccines against Ebola, it said.
The Defence Ministry said its help, being sent on nine military transport planes, would consist of eight medical brigades plus around 100 other personnel, including the epidemiological and virus experts.
Russia itself has reported 367 cases of the virus, many of them in Moscow, and one coronavirus-related death.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
This Crisis shows w/o a doubt who the REAL friends of Europe and all Europeans are Russia + China. The REAL ENEMIES are the Rogue AmeriCunt Mafia/Terrorist Regime, NATO-Mafia, the corrupt neoliberal/globalist Elites/Oligarchs, the Corporate-Fascist Entities, the Financial Mafia-Cartels + the unelected criminal treacherous EU-Junta [Commission + Council].
RT VIDEO:
VIDEO FRANCE 24
Coronavirus pandemic: Russia, Cuba, China send aid to Italy
Hope the MSM do not stop the people of Italy from finding out who their true friends were, during their time of need.
From Russia With Love – perfect labelling.
Alex and Alexander always keep on top of things, always keep us well informed.
And Cuba is also sending medical teams to Italy. I wonder if this will ever make the evening news.
Is Cuba also helping Venezuela?
Cuban Doctors are legendary loved + cherished everywhere in Latin America + Caribian…and they are hated by the AmeriCunts and their corrupt Puppet Regimes.
It certainly has been in the news as well as the huge help from China and Russia . Our Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and our foreign minister Luigi di Maio have been working hard to bring this about, and we Italians are very grateful and aware of being let down by the EU and (obselete) Nato.
Brilliant, that the politicians are publicly thanking Russia, China, Cuba and those that helped.
Not forgetting EU/NATO partner and allied, Poland, reused Russian humanitarian Aid, access to Polish Airspace, when delivering AID to Italy. I hope the MSM highlight that fact, but, seriously doubt it.
NATO funds are used to fight imaginary enemies while the real enemies laugh all the way into your lungs unhindered.
RUPTLY VIDEO:
RT VIDEO:
The Cuban government has sent a delegation of 37 doctors and 15 nurses to support the Italian healthcare system which is overloaded with the weight of Covid-19 pandemic.
Cuban doctors are greeted with big applause as they are landing in Italy to help fight the pandemic:
Russia and China have displayed a true gesture of friendship, compassion and humanism when it was really needed, not just empty words and lofty promises about so called “western solidarity” that we are used to from the EU and the U.S. Bravo Russia and China!
Russia immediately recognised this as a bioweapon and went into defence mode, knowing that they would also be targeted.
Merkel in quarantine? Too little, too late. She should have been put in solitary confinement a long time ago before she had the opportunity to do all of the damage she has done.
As Merkel cowardly is hiding in her ‘Führerbunker’ under pretend/fake quarantine. Apparently the German Regime arrogantly refused to accept offered help from China. Even in hiding she and her Regime causes damage to all Germans and Germany – What a Traitor she is.
https://deutsch.rt.com/inland/99716-wir-schaffen-alleine-deutschland-verweigert/
Top analysis from the Duran – clearest I’ve seen yet. Also, full marks to Alexander for coming clean about changing his mind on the gravity of this crisis. I took longer but the TV report from Italy was one of the factors that changed my mind (it was actually Sky News who did it – their team there deserve a medal). I also heard from a friend whose daughter is a third year medical student (and has been sent home) that her professor – a lung specialist – has never in his career seen lungs like the ones of patients… Read more »
What concerns me about the criticism of the EU’s response to COVID-19 is that there is clearly an argument in response that the answers is “more Europe”. It’s what I hear every time Alex and Alex rightfully savage the EU: “but we need more Europe”. You can see it being argued by the EC and other heavyweights, supported by their idiot lapdogs in the EU parliament, that the problem is the EU didn’t have enough power, not enough control to manage the response. Just think about the way governing bodies always expand their power in response to a crisis or… Read more »
At least in Italy I get the impression after our experience of being abondoned by the EU, that there is a strong sense of disillusion of the EU.
I hope that the Italians can maintain the range even after the inevitable bail out from the EU. The problem is that crisis is usually a good thing for an incumbent government. Salvini and the League have gone from “even money” to win in a landslide to something much closer to 50/50 without the sort of mandate that could be accepted. Borders are closed and they may not re-open by the time the next election is held. I think it takes quite a lot of steam out of Salvini’s platform. It seems to me to be much harder to make… Read more »
I and many other Italians certainly hope that there will NOT be a victory by the Lega when we have elections in 2023.
I think that this crisis will help Salvini to win the next elections. Such a crisis helps national patriotic movements which are directed against the EU.
Salvini and Giorgia Meloni are very right wing, Meloni is a fascist.
I do not know about Meloni but Salvini is a patriotic nationalist, comparable to Marine Le Pen in France.
Nicely said. How many Mps are funded by a Hedge Fund opportunist, known as Sorass? How many US politicians are also funded/sponsored by him, who are no different to the opportunists in the EU Parliament?
Always makes me laugh,whenever we have a new problem in the world give it time and up will pop George Soro’s what a bit shit he is.
Haven’t around 13 planes, from Russia to Italy, providing humanitarian aid and specialists now arrived? EU partner Poland ever helpful to the Italian EU/NATO partners, when refusing the Russian aid planes access to Polish Airspace. How kind of the Polish Government. Over on South Front Org, is an interesting article, showing just what Russia, the demonized nation, sent to their friends in Italy, during their hour of need. The same nasty Russia (sarc), that sent the $12million ‘Tear of Grief memorial, to the people of America. To show their compassion, friendship, sorrow, grief, sympathy and affection, flowing 9/11. In return… Read more »
Not to mention, the stopped + confiscated shipments of medical supplies from China w/ destination Italy passing through Poland + Chech Rep.
https://deutsch.rt.com/europa/99729-eu-solidaritat-polen-und-tschechien/
Speach less, with regards pilfering another nations humanitarian aid. Tried to read the article, got the jest, but Google translate wasn’t working. Will try later and thank you for the link.
The Poles are wellknown pilfering thieves. They also stole gas from Russian pipelines to Europe. That’s why the new pipeline is going across the Baltic Sea, circumventing Poland, so they will not continue stealing Russian gas without paying for it.
According to two reliable sources we found pinching pennies from the Trevi Fountain, all the Russians sent were a dozen boxes of tooth brushes and 80% of them were used.
Bla bla bla… old news…. There was no pandemic… there was something yes