Putin urges jont virus response from EEU leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called for action to shore up the Moscow-led economic alliance of ex-Soviet nations amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking in a conference call with leaders of four other nations which make up the Eurasian Economic Union, Putin called for a joint response to the outbreak.

He said virus containment measures must not result in rupturing economic links and freezing trade between the member nations.

The Eurasian Economic Union includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

The Russian leader said the grouping has taken coordinated steps to bar the exports of essential medical supplies.

He proposed to slash tariffs to encourage trade and take additional steps to help the industries hurt by the pandemic.

Russia has registered 21,102 virus cases and 170 deaths as of Tuesday.

Putin has ordered most Russians to stay off work until the end of April as part of a partial economic shutdown to stymie the spread of the coronavirus.