Oh all right, everything is clear now. The EU intentionally botched its vaccine procurement, because von der Leyen didn't want to give the wrong impression that the EU accepts "the situation with pandemic." https://twitter.com/michaelbirnbaum/status/1357656764653658113

Indeed this makes one wonder if the reason for today's embarrassment was actually that they wanted to rectify the earlier embarrassment with vaccines.

https://twitter.com/Jderbyshire/status/1357693526302162945

This visit is getting increasingly embarrassing for Borrell, bordering on humiliation. Russia expels three European diplomats (a Pole, a German and a Swede) for their presence at unsanctioned protests on January 23. https://twitter.com/ru_rbc/status/1357696911311065089?s=19

Let's sum this up:

- EU messes up vaccine procurement;
- Borrell goes to Moscow, calls for regulatory approval of Sputnik V, doesn't visit Navalny, his spokesperson invents a transparent excuse;
- Once Borrell has spoken favorably about Sputnik, Russia expels 3 EU diplomats.

The more you read about it, the more embarrassing this looks for Borrell and the EU. He took a bad decision in a bid to cover up for another bad decision; he took his audience for fools; he was woefully unprepared. This must have consequences. https://www.politico.eu/article/borrell-stands-by-as-lavrov-calls-eu-unreliable-partner/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1612538816