Hungary has concluded talks on purchasing the vaccine with a Russian government delegation, the minister said.

The samples Hungary receives will undergo laboratory testing so that the authorities can make a safe decision about whether the vaccine can be put to use in the country, Szijjártó said.

He added that the talks had also touched on the possibility of manufacturing the vaccine in Hungary.

The Hungarian company designated to manufacture the vaccine has received all the necessary preparatory documentation from Russia, he said.

Next week, the developer will be in a position to give a clear picture of the schedule for manufacturing the vaccine and the capacities it would need to devote to it, the minister added.

In a statement, Russia’s ministry of industry and trade said Minister Denis Manturov confirmed that the samples would be sent to Hungary next week.

It also confirmed that preparations were under way to produce the vaccine in Hungary, the first EU country involved in the production of the Russian vaccine.