Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement in August that his country had cleared the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine for use before it even completed safety trials sparked skepticism worldwide. Now he may reap diplomatic dividends as Russia basks in arguably its biggest scientific breakthrough since the Soviet era, Bloomberg reports.

Countries are lining up for supplies of Sputnik V after peer-reviewed results published in The Lancet medical journal showed the Russian vaccine protects against the deadly virus about as well as U.S. and European shots, and far more effectively than Chinese rivals.

At least 19 countries have approved the inoculation for use, including Armenia, while key markets such as Brazil and India are close to authorizing it. Now Russia’s setting its sights on the prized EU market as the bloc struggles with its vaccination program amid supply shortages.

Results from the late-stage trials of 20,000 participants reviewed in The Lancet showed that the vaccine has a 91.6% success rate.

Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan said on February 3 Armenia was negotiating the purchase of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus.