Putin on virus response, non-oil and gas revenues

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said the country's Sputnik V vaccine offered 95% protection from the coronavirus.

He was speaking via videolink from Novo-Ogaryovo at the annual journalist's press conference in Moscow.

The country has faced international criticism for approving a vaccine that hasn’t completed advanced trials among tens of thousands of people, and experts both at home and abroad warned against its wider use until the studies are completed.

But Putin said foreign countries had changed their minds and were ready for cooperation in areas they struggle with.

On a separate issue, speaking about Russia's oil and gas revenues, Putin said the country was beginning to move away from being branded a petrol station.