Trump Believes Russian 'Plague' Is Unlikely to Be 'Bioweapon'
Trump said the U.S. is pressing Moscow for more information as nearly 200 people were placed under medical observation, officials said.
- On Wednesday, President Donald Trump stated in the Oval Office that the death of a Russian laboratory worker from suspected plague does not appear linked to a biological weapon, replying "Well, we don't think so" when asked directly.
- Russian media reported earlier this week that nearly 200 people had been placed under medical observation in Russia's Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia over suspected exposure to plague, following a female worker's death at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute.
- Trump said evidence is lacking to suspect the outbreak is biological, though Washington is pressing Moscow for more information, and drew parallels to China's initial Covid-19 response: "China didn't say much, and Russia is not saying much either."
- Despite Trump's announcement of a planned call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov disputed the claim, stating no such arrangements are in place.
- International pressure mounts as the United States and United Nations urge Russia to be more transparent, while Russia warned against false information as reports emerged of a second suspected case.
81 Articles
81 Articles
Trump tamps down speculation Russia plague lab worker died from bioweapon: ‘Going to find out soon enough’
President Trump downplayed the possibility that a Russian plague scientist died from a biological weapon in Siberia — saying "we don't think so" but that "we're going to find out soon enough."
Trump doesn’t think Russia plague incident is bioweapon and says he will call Putin next week
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States does not believe the death of a Russian laboratory worker from a suspected case of plague was caused by a bioweapon, according to a report from CNBC. Trump also said he planned to telephone Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day. Putin turned 74 on […]
Donald Trump said on the issue of the plague in Russia that he does not believe it is linked to a biological weapon. "We will find out very soon, but we do not believe it," said the American president, answering a question about this case at the White House, while adding, referring to the Russian authorities: "They say the situation is completely under control." Trump-Putin phone call expected He reiterated that he is expected to have a phone ca…
The United States does not believe that the death of an employee from a centre for plague research in Siberia would be related to a biological weapon, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday.
Don't think it was a bioweapon: Trump on mysterious death in Russian plague lab
The 28-year-old laboratory worker, Darya Shipilova, died last week after developing pneumonia of unknown origin while working at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute in Siberia. US President Donald Trump, however, says Washington does not believe the case is linked to a biological weapon.
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