KYIV, Dec 8 – Ukraine, one of the worst-hit countries by the coronavirus pandemic, has asked the U.S. to obtain priority status in getting COVID-19 vaccine, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said Tuesday.

Stepanov spoke with U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Ukraine, Kristina Kvien, on Monday, asked her to accelerate delivery of the vaccine.

"I asked her to consider Ukraine as a potential priority candidate for vaccines under the program of emergency use and combating biotechnological disasters," the minister said during a press briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"Previously, I held talks with the U.S. Secretary of Health and now the Minister's office is helping in negotiations on the final documents for the supply of the appropriate vaccines. Kvien has assured that she will hold appropriate consultations with the U.S. government so that we get the vaccine as soon as possible," he added.

Stepanov noted that all three companies that have conducted all stages of vaccine clinical trials are American. He also added that Ukraine is negotiating with other companies that are at the final stage of clinical trials.

"Last week, I signed technical documents for obtaining a vaccine within the framework of the global COVAX initiative: we should receive it in the first half of 2021, it is planned for the end of the first - beginning of the second quarter. We should receive 8 million doses," the minister added, noting that priority groups will be the first to receive the vaccine.

Fox News, citing sources earlier, said that U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday intends to sign an executive order, according to which the Americans will first receive the vaccine against the COVID-19 coronavirus, and only then will they begin to supply it to other countries.

"The priority is to make sure we distribute these vaccines to Americans before we start shipping them around the world to get international access," an official from the U.S. presidential department told Fox News.

He also predicted that international assistance of the U.S. could come "late spring, early summer," and after they "achieve vaccinating those who have a desire to be vaccinated."

The official said that the order will direct the secretary of Health and Human Services to prioritize distribution of the vaccines to Americans, at speeds "unseen before."

The order will outline the government's "three primary approaches," which includes working with partners and allies that have the financial means to procure highly-effective vaccines.

For countries that are not as financial well-off, the senior administration official said that they will "leverage resources to help them to procure the vaccine." (om/ez)