Putin “committed” to supplying fertilizers to Brazil: Kremlin

Presidents Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil and Vladimir Putin of Russia talked on the phone on Monday about the recent BRICS Summit and food security issues. The call was announced by Yuri Ushakov, Mr. Putin’s foreign policy adviser, and confirmed by the Kremlin’s official website. 

The Brazilian presidential palace and Foreign Affairs Ministry did not immediately reply to a request to comment on the phone call.

“The President of Russia gave a detailed assessment of the causes of the difficult situation on the world market for agricultural products and fertilizers. The importance of restoring the architecture of free trade in foodstuffs and fertilizers, which collapsed under Western sanctions, was emphasized,” the Russian government wrote about the conversation.

“In this context, Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia is committed to fulfilling its obligations to ensure uninterrupted supplies of Russian fertilizers to Brazilian farmers,” the Kremlin added.

Mr. Putin and Mr. Bolsonaro also talked about Brazil taking the rotating monthly presidency of the UN Security Council next Friday.

Brazil is heavily dependent on Russian fertilizers. The country imports 85 percent of its consumption of this input, which is vital for farmers, 22 percent of which comes from Russia. 

While Brazilian farmers are not lacking fertilizers at this moment, prices are becoming exceedingly expensive — and that will drive already skyrocketing food prices even further up.

• #agribusiness
• #diplomacy
• #russia
• #trade