© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Russian military transport plane carrying medical equipment masks and supplies lands at JFK Airport during outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New YorkBy Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is paying Russia for a planeload of medical equipment sent by Moscow to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, a senior Trump administration official said on Thursday, clearing up confusion as to who footed the bill.
It had been unclear whether Russia had sent the 60 tons of equipment as a gift or whether it had sold the shipment of ventilators, masks, respirators and other items.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow had paid half the cost with the other half picked up by Washington.
But the senior official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the United States paid.
“The United States is purchasing the supplies and equipment outright, as with deliveries from other…
