Putin offers U.N. staff a dose of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine for free

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered United Nations staff a dose of the Russia-developed Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccine for free.

Putin made the offer in his pre-recorded video address to the 75th anniversary session of the United Nations General Assembly.

"The coronavirus has struck the staff of the United Nations, its headquarters and regional structures just like everyone else," he said. "Russia is ready to provide the UN with all the necessary qualified assistance; in particular, we are offering to provide our vaccine, free of charge, for the voluntary vaccination of the staff of the UN and its offices. We have received requests from our UN colleagues in this respect, and we will respond to those."

Sputnik-V was the world's first registered COVID-19 vaccine. It was developed jointly by the Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defense Ministry.

Putin's offer comes as the number of COVID-19 infections globally surpassed the 31.71 million mark with a death toll exceeding 972,000.

The Russian president also said his country was ready to cooperate with other states in the quest to avail a vaccine to everyone around the world.

"Russia is sure that all capacities of the global pharmaceutical industry need to be employed so as to provide a free access to vaccination for the population of all states in the foreseeable future," he said.