The United States is sending aid to Russia in return for their help earlier in the pandemic.

Russian health care workers. AP.

The United States is sending Russia 200 ventilators in return for help Russia offered earlier in the Coronavirus pandemic. Reuters.  Russia initially offered the United States a planeload of protective equipment with the understanding that America would help them if needed. At that stage of the outbreak the virus was out of control in the United States but not a problem in Russia. However, the tables have now turned with Russia having the 2nd most after America and their cases expanding rapidly. Even their Prime Minster, Mikhail Mishutin, had the virus, along with three other senior officials, but he has recovered. 50 ventilators are on their way now and another 150 will be sent soon. 

My Comment:

There are people that have a problem with us helping out Russia and to them I say Russia already helped us. Their planeload of supplies helped, though we didn't need the ventilators in the end, we did at least use the PPE they provided. It's time to return the favor. I could see not sending them ventilators if we needed them ourselves but it's clear that we can spare them as new cases decline in the United States. 

And it's not like we don't have an interest in helping the Russians deal with the Coronavirus. Even ignoring the politics of the situation, the virus is out of control in Russia. the worse things get there the worse they could get globally as Russians travel and bring the virus with them. These supplies won't help that much but they will help and that's in our best interests. 

Of course the politics of the situation is important too and this is at least a symbolic gesture of better relations between the two states. Tensions with Russia have been high and this move will likely cool things off. I've always thought it was better to work with the Russians instead of treating them like our number one enemy. 

Indeed, I think we should be doing whatever we can to get Russia on our side against China. After all China is the bigger threat and they are the ones that were responsible for this outbreak. Russia could be a useful ally against China and letting them cozy up to China would be a major mistake. 

It's probably pretty obvious as to why Russia is having so many problems with the Coronavirus. Russians tend to live in crowded apartments and are not healthy due to problems with drinking and various other problems. Russia is getting so many cases now since their outbreak started later than everyone else. The onset of Summer might help things but until that happens Russia is going to have a lot of problems with the virus. The good news so far is that they have had relatively few deaths but that might not last long, given how new many of the cases are. 

It is good that Russia's Prime Minster Mishtun is ok. I wrote about him testing positive back in April and it appears he has recovered. That isn't too surprising as he was getting top notch healthcare and wasn't that old but it's still positive news. And it also seems that Vladimir Putin himself has so far avoided the disease. Hopefully that continues as instability in Russia is not a good thing for anyone...