BRASILIA, June 28, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on
Monday promised his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro that Russia "is
committed" to maintaining its delivery of much-needed fertilizers to the
South American agricultural giant.

Speaking in Brasilia, Bolsonaro said the two leaders had discussed by
telephone "food security" and "energy insecurity," without giving more
details.

In its own statement on the conversation, the Kremlin said Putin "stressed
that Russia is committed to carry out its obligations to guarantee the
uninterrupted delivery of Russian fertilizers to Brazilian farmers."

The statement added that Putin asked for "the restoration of the architecture
of free commerce of food products and fertilizers that have collapsed due to
Western sanctions" against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

A global agricultural power, Brazil imports more than 80 percent of its
fertilizers -- a figure that rises to 96 percent in the case of potassium --
according to the agriculture ministry.

More than 20 percent of those fertilizer imports come from Russia.

But the Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine,
which began in February, sparked fears in Brazil that its supply of
fertilizers could be affected.

Bolsonaro's government also announced the start of negotiations with
alternative suppliers, mainly Canada, Jordan, Egypt and Morocco, while adding
that domestic production would be increased.